Predicting return to work after rehabilitation for low back injury

This study examined personal factors, diagnosis and delay in referral as possible influences on the return to work of workers after low back injury. These workers undertook rehabilitation programmes after WorkCover and workplace-based rehabilitation was introduced in NSW in July 1987. Using data from the NSW Commonwealth Rehabilitation Service, a Branch of the Commonwealth Department of Community Services and Health, a predictive model for return to work after rehabilitation was constructed. Factors which were associated with an increase in the likelihood of a return to work were younger age, fluency with English and early referral for rehabilitation. Severity of injury was not associated with the likelihood of returning to work. Although the data suggested that women returned to work more often than men, this difference was not statistically significant.