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Psychological morbidity and return to work after injury: multicentre cohort study

Kendrick, D; Dhiman, P; Kellezi, B; Coupland, C; Whitehead, J; Beckett, K; Christie, N; ... Morriss, R; + view all (2017) Psychological morbidity and return to work after injury: multicentre cohort study. British Journal of General Practice , 67 (661) e555-e564. 10.3399/bjgp17X691673. Green open access

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Abstract

BACKGROUND: The benefits of work for physical, psychological and financial wellbeing are well documented. Return to work (RTW) after unintentional injury is often delayed, and psychological morbidity may contribute to this delay. The impact of psychological morbidity on RTW after a wide range of unintentional injuries in the UK has not been adequately quantified. AIMS: To quantify the role of psychological factors including anxiety, depression and post-traumatic distress on RTW following unintentional injuries. DESIGN AND SETTING: Longitudinal multi-centre prospective study in Nottingham, Bristol, Leicester and Guildford, UK Method: Participants (n=273) were 16-69 year olds admitted to hospital following unintentional injury and, in paid employment prior to injury. They were surveyed at baseline, 1, 2, 4 and 12 months following injury on demographic and injury characteristics, psychological morbidity and RTW status. Associations between demographic, injury and psychological factors and RTW status were quantified using random effects logistic regression. RESULTS: The odds of RTW reduced as depression scores one month post-injury increased (OR 0.87, 95%CI 0.79, 0.95) and as length of hospital stay increased (OR 0.91, 95%CI 0.86, 0.96). Those experiencing threatening life events following injury (OR 0.27, 95%CI 0.10, 0.72) and with higher scores on the crisis social support scale (OR 0.93, 95%CI 0.88, 0.99) had a lower odds of RTW. Multiple imputation analysis found similar results except crisis social support did not remain significant. CONCLUSION: Primary care professionals can identify patients at risk of delayed RTW who may benefit from management of psychological morbidity and support to RTW. How this fits in Injuries are common in working age-adults; resulting in a delayed return to work (RTW) for many. The benefits of work for physical, psychological and financial wellbeing are well documented. Depression occurring early in the recovery period, threatening life events after the injury and a longer stay in hospital significantly reduce the odds of RTW in the first year after injury. Primary care professionals can identify patients at risk of delayed RTW, detect and manage psychological morbidity and provide support to RTW.

Type: Article
Title: Psychological morbidity and return to work after injury: multicentre cohort study
Open access status: An open access version is available from UCL Discovery
DOI: 10.3399/bjgp17X691673
Publisher version: http://doi.org/10.3399/bjgp17X691673
Language: English
Additional information: © British Journal of General Practice 2017. This version is the version of record. For information on re-use, please refer to the publisher’s terms and conditions.
Keywords: Injury, work, return to work
UCL classification: UCL
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS > Faculty of Engineering Science
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS > Faculty of Engineering Science > Dept of Civil, Environ and Geomatic Eng
URI: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/1557791
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