Occupational reintegration after severe burn injury: a questionnaire study

Area of Science:

• Burn injury research
• Occupational therapy
• Rehabilitation medicine

Background:

• Improved survival rates post-burn injury necessitate focus on occupational reintegration.
• Assessing factors influencing return to work is vital for burn survivor recovery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a precise patient questionnaire for evaluating occupational reintegration.
• To identify key factors contributing to successful or failed return to work after severe burn injuries.

Main Methods:

• A 20-question occupational reintegration questionnaire was developed under psychological supervision.
• A single-center study involved burn survivors (working age, ABSI ≥ 6, TBSA ≥ 15%) admitted to a burn intensive care unit (BICU) between 2004-2013.
• The questionnaire was mailed to eligible burn survivors.

Main Results:

• 11 out of 112 contacted burn survivors participated (10% response rate).
• 7 (64%) participants successfully returned to work, while 4 (36%) did not.
• Factors negatively impacting return to work included advanced age, longer BICU/hospital stays, higher TBSA, burn occurring at work, lower education, and aesthetic appearance issues.

Conclusions:

• Severely burned patients, particularly older individuals with lower education and prolonged hospital stays, face higher risks of failed occupational reintegration.
• The developed questionnaire serves as a valuable tool for identifying at-risk patients needing targeted support for return to work.