Work status and burn specific health after work-related burn injury

Work status is a valid indicator of post burn health. There is limited information on this issue after work-related burn injury.

To investigate long-term health- and work status after work-related burns.

Eighty-six former patients treated for severe work-related burn injuries an average of 9.0 years previous to follow-up were questioned about their present work status. They were also assessed with the Burn Specific Health Scale-Brief (BSHS-B) and a pain scale adopted from the abbreviated Burn Specific Health Scale.

At follow-up 71 (83%) of the former patients were working, nine (10%) were on sick leave or had a disability pension, and six (7%) were unemployed. Those who were not working reported a poorer outcome in three of the BSHS-B psychosocial domains (Body Image, Affect and Interpersonal Relationships) and in two of the BSHS-B physical domains (Treatment Regimens and Work). They also reported significantly more pain.

Only a small group of former patients with work-related accidents were not working in the sample studied after a long follow-up period. The unemployed reported more pain and worse perceived health, particularly in psychosocial domains.