title: Factors related to the physician and the employer influencing successful return to work in Korea: results from the first panel study of workers' compensation insurance (PSWCI).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aims to investigate associated factors including the physician and the employer of successful return to work (RTW) in occupationally injured workers.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study is based on the first panel study of workers' compensation insurance (PSWCI), published in June 2014. The PSWCI is a sample survey of occupationally injured workers who completed medical care in 2012 (89,921 people). A total of 2000 subjects were sampled based on sex, age, nine metropolitan-based regions, disability ratings, duration of rehabilitation, and whether vocational rehabilitation service was used. We divided the study population into two groups: return to work (RTW) group (job retention, reemployment, unpaid family worker, and self-employment), and non-RTW group (joblessness and economical inactivity). The odds ratios (ORs) and 95 % confidence intervals (CI) related to differences in basic characteristics, part of physician and employer-related factors between those who succeeded to RTW and those who did not were measured using multivariable logistic regression model.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The success of RTW is 70.6 % (n = 1412) among participants. The ORs (95 % CI) of the participants belonging to RTW who received periodic recovery assessment from the medical care institution and the physician are 1.51 (1.07-2.13). The ORs (95 % CI) are 1.68 (1.05-2.69) for the RTW group who received work ability assessment and referral for vocational return. When the employer maintains the relationship with the occupationally injured worker, the worker has 1.39 times higher odds (95 % CI: 1.41-2.26) of the RTW group compared to the non-RTW group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The physician and the employer have a significant impact on the RTW.
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine, The Institute for Occupational Health, Yonsei University College of Medicine, 50, Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, 120-749 Seoul, Korea ; Graduate School of Public Health, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea ; Incheon Worker's Health Center, Incheon, Korea.
authors.forename: Wanhyung
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine, The Institute for Occupational Health, Yonsei University College of Medicine, 50, Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, 120-749 Seoul, Korea ; Graduate School of Public Health, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea ; Incheon Worker's Health Center, Incheon, Korea ; Department of Preventive Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Jin-Ha
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine, The Institute for Occupational Health, Yonsei University College of Medicine, 50, Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, 120-749 Seoul, Korea ; Graduate School of Public Health, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea ; Incheon Worker's Health Center, Incheon, Korea ; Department of Preventive Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Jaehoon
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Roh
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine, The Institute for Occupational Health, Yonsei University College of Medicine, 50, Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, 120-749 Seoul, Korea ; Graduate School of Public Health, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea ; Incheon Worker's Health Center, Incheon, Korea.
authors.forename: Yeong-Kwang
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine, The Institute for Occupational Health, Yonsei University College of Medicine, 50, Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, 120-749 Seoul, Korea ; Graduate School of Public Health, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea ; Incheon Worker's Health Center, Incheon, Korea.
authors.forename: Hongdeok
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Seok
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine, The Institute for Occupational Health, Yonsei University College of Medicine, 50, Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, 120-749 Seoul, Korea ; Graduate School of Public Health, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea ; Incheon Worker's Health Center, Incheon, Korea.
authors.forename: June-Hee
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine, The Institute for Occupational Health, Yonsei University College of Medicine, 50, Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, 120-749 Seoul, Korea ; Graduate School of Public Health, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea ; Incheon Worker's Health Center, Incheon, Korea ; Department of Preventive Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Jong-Uk
authors.initials: JU
authors.lastname: Won
keywords: Industrial accident; Occupationally injured worker; Return to work; Workers’ compensation insurance