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Prospective analysis of factors associated with work reentry in patients with accident-related injuries
Corinna Lange1, Markus Burgmer, Michael Braunheim
1Department of Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Muenster, Domagkstr. 22, 48149 Muenster, Germany. langeco@uni-muenster.de
Introduction:
The objective of this study was to investigate the influence of accidents, the physical and psychological consequences, the patient's predisposition as well as work-related cognitions on return to work (RTW) post accident. Despite the costs of time-off from work after accidental injuries, very few investigations have been carried out so far.
Method:
In a consecutive sample, 163 patients were investigated directly and 12 months after an accident.
Results:
32% of the patients had a poor occupational integration 12 months after an accident. As predictors for return to work were found type of prior work: laborer (OR = 4.34; 1.79-10.50 CI 95%), type of accident: recreational (OR = 0.27; 0.11-0.69 CI 95%) and subjective perception of the accident severity (OR = 0.98; 0.96-0.99 CI 95%).
Conclusion:
Laborers after a traffic or work accident, who estimate the accident as severe, are at greater risk of developing long-term disability. Future efforts should be conducted especially for this target group.