Long-Term Effects of Psychological Symptoms after Occupational Injury on Return to Work: A 6-Year Follow-Up

Po-Ching Chu, Wei-Shan Chin, Yue Leon Guo and Judith Shu-Chu Shiao
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Po-Ching Chu: Department of Environmental and Occupational Medicine, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, #1, Ren-Ai Rd. Sec. 1, Taipei 10051, Taiwan
Wei-Shan Chin: National Institute of Environmental Health Science, National Health Research Institutes, Zhunan, #35 Keyan Rd., Zhuan, Miaoli County 35053, Taiwan
Yue Leon Guo: Department of Environmental and Occupational Medicine, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, #1, Ren-Ai Rd. Sec. 1, Taipei 10051, Taiwan
Judith Shu-Chu Shiao: School of Nursing, National Taiwan University, #1, Ren-Ai Rd. Sec. 1, Taipei 10051, Taiwan

IJERPH, 2019, vol. 16, issue 2, 1-12

Abstract: Psychological factors may compromise return to work among workers with occupational injuries, and little is known about the long-term consequences of psychological symptoms relating to return to work. The study examined the impact of psychological symptoms on return to work as well as exploring factors associated with return to work among injured workers. A total of 572 workers who experienced occupational injuries were recruited in this prospective cohort study. Surveys of the psychological symptoms using the 5-item Brief Symptom Rating Scale (BSRS-5) were conducted at 3 and 12 months after the injury. All of the workers were invited to join the study at year 6 after the injury. Sociodemographic factors, psychological symptoms, injury severity, and return-to-work status were collected. Approximately 10% of injured workers could not return to work even 6 years after the injury. Severe psychological symptoms within 1 year after the injury presented a significant risk factor for not returning to work 6 years after the injury (adjusted OR = 0.7, 95% CI: 0.5–0.8). Furthermore, age, education level, length of hospitalization, and injury-induced changes in appearance had significant independent influence on return to work as well. These findings highlight the importance of the effects of mental health within 1 year post injury on return to work, and support the concept of early screening, detection, and intervention in at-risk occupational injured workers with severe psychological symptoms.

Keywords: occupational injury; psychology; return to work (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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