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Toward an epidemiology of work disability
The Milbank Memorial Fund Quarterly. Health and Society
|January 1, 1980
Summary
Disability work loss is more influenced by social factors than medical ones. Public policy should focus more on workplace social characteristics, not just individual "human capital" for people with impairments.
Area of Science:
- Health Economics
- Sociology of Health and Illness
- Disability Studies
Background:
- The indirect costs of illness, primarily lost wages, significantly outweigh direct medical service costs.
- Current disability policies often focus on the individual's "human capital" when they enter the labor market.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the predictors of work loss among individuals with physical impairments.
- To evaluate the relative importance of social versus medical characteristics in disability-related work loss.
- To inform public policy by identifying key factors influencing employment outcomes for disabled individuals.
Main Methods:
- This study analyzes the relationship between social and medical characteristics of individuals with physical impairments and their likelihood of work loss.
- It contrasts the predictive power of personal social attributes against the characteristics of their medical conditions.
Main Results:
- Social characteristics of individuals with physical impairments are more significant predictors of work loss than the specific medical condition.
- The study highlights that factors beyond an individual's "human capital" are crucial for understanding disability and employment.
Conclusions:
- Public policy for disability should shift focus from solely "human capital" to include the social dynamics of the workplace.
- Addressing social characteristics within the workplace is essential for reducing work loss associated with physical impairments.