Predictive Factors for Returning to Work in Burn Adult Patients That Were Working Before Their Injury

Area of Science:

• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Burn Care
• Occupational Health

Background:

• Return to work (RTW) is a critical outcome for burn survivors.
• Identifying factors influencing RTW is essential for effective rehabilitation strategies.
• Previous research has not comprehensively identified all predictive factors for RTW in burn patients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify predictive factors influencing return to work in burn patients.
• To analyze the association between patient characteristics, injury severity, and RTW outcomes.
• To provide data for improving rehabilitation and support services for burn survivors.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective case-control study of working-age burn patients (16-91 years).
• Inclusion of patients treated at the National Center for Burn Care and Research (CENIAQ) from 2011-2013.
• Logistic regression (univariate and multivariate) analysis to determine predictive factors for RTW.

Main Results:

• 165 out of 210 patients (79.6%) returned to work.
• Predictors for not returning to work included: lower education, epilepsy history, TBSA ≥20%, third-degree burns, prolonged hospital stay (≥20 days), burn intensive care unit stay, secondary infections, and amputations.
• Specific burn locations (upper extremity, thigh, knee) were also associated with not returning to work.

Conclusions:

• Several factors significantly predict return to work in burn patients.
• Lower educational attainment, pre-existing epilepsy, burn severity, and complications like infection and amputation are key barriers.
• These findings highlight the need for targeted interventions to address these factors and improve RTW rates.