Predictors of non-return to work 2 years post-injury in road traffic crash survivors: Results from the UQ SuPPORT study.
OBJECTIVE
Individuals who have sustained an injury from a road traffic crash (RTC) are at increased risk for long lasting health problems and non-return to work (NRTW). Determining the predictors of NRTW is necessary to develop screening tools to identify at-risk individuals and to provide early targeted intervention for successful return to work (RTW). The aim of this study was to identify factors that can predict which individuals will not RTW following minor or moderate injuries sustained from a RTC.


METHODS
Participants were 194 claimants (63.4% female) within a common-law "fault-based" system from the UQ SuPPORT cohort who were working prior to their RTC. Participants were assessed at 6 months on a variety of physical and mental health measures and RTW status was determined at 2 years post-RTC. RTW rate was 78.4%.


RESULTS
Univariate predictors of NRTW included being the driver or passenger, having a prior psychiatric diagnosis, high disability level, low mental or physical quality of life, predicted non-recovery, high pain, low function, high expectations of pain persistency, low expectations about RTW, having a psychiatric diagnosis, elevated depression or anxiety. The final multivariable logistic regression model included only two variables: disability level and expectations about RTW. Seventy-five percent of individuals who will not RTW by 2 years can be identified accurately at an early stage, using only these two predictors.


CONCLUSIONS
The results are promising, because they suggest that having information about two factors, which are easily obtainable, can predict with accuracy those who will require additional support to facilitate RTW.
School of Psychology, Australian Catholic University, Brisbane, QLD, 4014, Australia. Electronic address: michelle.delaney@acu.edu.au.
Michelle
M
Heron-Delaney
Recover Injury Research Centre, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.
Jacelle
J
Warren
Recover Injury Research Centre, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia; School of Psychology, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.
Justin A
JA
Kenardy
D000063:Accidents, Traffic / Q000191:economics / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000453:epidemiology; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D059350:Chronic Pain / Q000453:epidemiology; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007345:Insurance Claim Review / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012372:ROC Curve; D062707:Return to Work / Q000191:economics / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D018582:Sick Leave / Q000191:economics*; D012944:Social Support; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000453:epidemiology; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology; D013997:Time Factors; D015599:Trauma Severity Indices
Health; Mental health; Motor vehicles; Return to work; Traffic accidents