title: A threshold regression model to predict return to work after traumatic limb injury.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The study aims to examine the severity of initial impairment and recovery rate of return-to-work (RTW) predictors among workers with traumatic limb injury.
  
  
  METHODS
  This 2-year prospective cohort study recruited 1124 workers with traumatic limb injury during the first 2 weeks of hospital admission. Baseline data were obtained by questionnaire and chart review. Patient follow-up occurred at 1, 3, 6, 12, 18, and 24 months post injury. The primary outcome was the time of first RTW. The impact of potential predictors on initial impairment and rate of recovery towards RTW was estimated by threshold regression (TR).
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 846 (75.27%) participants returned to work during the follow-up period. Our model revealed that the initial impairment level in elderly workers and lower limb injuries were 33% and 35% greater than their counterparts, respectively. Workers with >12 years of education, part-time job, and moderate and higher self-efficacy were less impaired at initial injury compared with their counterparts. In terms of the rate of recovery leading to RTW, workers with older age, part-time jobs, lower limbs, or combined injuries had a significantly slower recovery rate, while workers with 9-12 years of education and >12 years of education had a significantly faster recovery rate.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study provides researchers and clinicians with evidence to understand the baseline impairment and rate of recovery towards RTW by explaining the predictors of RTW among workers with traumatic limb injuries.
authors.affiliation: Master Program in Long-Term Care, College of Nursing, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan; School of Gerontology Health Management, College of Nursing, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Wen-Hsuan
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Hou
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan. Electronic address: hychuang@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Hung-Yi
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Chuang
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA; Institute of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Mei-Ling Ting
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000062:Accidents, Occupational / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001134:Arm Injuries; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007869:Leg Injuries; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D060051:Occupational Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D009790:Occupations / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012050:Rehabilitation, Vocational; D062707:Return to Work / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Predictors; Return-to-work; Threshold regression; Traumatic limb injuries