Related Experiment Videos
Use of disablement resettlement officers by patients with musculoskeletal disorders
1Department of Rheumatology, St Bartholomew's Hospital, London, UK.
Objective:
to define the use of disablement resettlement officers (DRO) by patients with locomotor disorders.
Design:
questionnaire for patients with locomotor disorders potentially handicapping them from obtaining work.
Setting:
outpatient clinics.
Patients:
52 patients, capable of work, aged 55 years or less, with a locomotor disorder; 19 had chronic arthritis and 18 back disorders. QUESTIONNAIRE: obtained details of diagnosis, work status, contact with DRO and results of referral.
Results:
21 had seen the DRO and three of these were dissatisfied; 15 were referred to the DRO and only three were placed in employment; 16 did not want referral to the DRO; overall 60% were unemployed.
Conclusions:
Many patients are reluctant to see the DRO. Only a minority either attend or find work on referral. A modified system is needed to improve the employment prospects of patients with locomotor disorders.