Validation of the Readiness for Return-To-Work Scale in Outpatient Occupational Rehabilitation in Canada (original) (raw)
Related papers
Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation, 2011
Introduction We report on the development and validation of a 10-item scale assessing self-efficacy within the return-to-work context, the Return-to-Work Self-Efficacy (RTWSE) scale. Methods Lost-time claimants completed a telephone survey 1 month (n = 632) and 6 months (n = 446) after a work-related musculoskeletal injury. Exploratory (Varimax and Promax rotation) and confirmatory factor analyses of self-efficacy items were conducted with two separate subsamples at both time points. Construct validity was examined by comparing scale measurements and theoretically derived constructs, and the phase specificity of RTWSE was studied by examining changes in strength of relationships between the RTWSE Subscales and the other constructs at both time measures. Results Factor analyses supported three underlying factors:
Purpose This study evaluates the Occupational Rehabilitation (OR) initiatives regarding return to work (RTW) and sustaining at work following work-related injuries. This study also identifies the predictors and predicts the likelihoods of RTW and sustainability for OR users. Methods The study is conducted on the compensation claim data for people who are injured at work in the state of Victoria, Australia. The claims which commenced OR services between the first of July 2012 and the end of June 2015 are included. The claims which used original employer services (OES) have been separated from claims which used new employer services (NES). We investigated a range of predictors categorised into four groups as claimant, injury, and employment characteristics and claim management. The RTW and sustaining at work are outcomes of interest. To evaluate the predictors, we use Chi-squared test and logistic regression modelling. Also, we prioritized the predictors using Akaike Information Criterion (AIC) measure and Cross-validation error. Four predictive models are developed using significant predictors for OES and NES users to predict RTW and sustainability. We examined the multicollinearity of the developed models using Variance Inflation Factor (VIF). Results About 75% and 60% of OES users achieved RTW and have been sustained at work respectively, whilst just approximately 30% of NES users have been placed at a new employer and 25% of them have been sustained at work. The predictors which have the most association with OES and NES outcomes are the use of psychiatric services and age groups respectively. We found that having mental conditions is as an important indicator to allocate injured workers into OES or NES initiatives. Our study shows that injured workers with mental issues do not always have lower RTW rate. They just need special consideration. Conclusion Understanding the predictors of RTW and sustainability helps to develop interventions to ensure sustained RTW. This study will assist decision makers to improve design and implementation of OR services and tailor services according to clients' needs. Introduction Injuries and illnesses that occur at work impose substantial personal, social and economic burdens on society [1]. These injuries may lead to disability, morbidity or even mortality. Many injured workers might have long-term healthcare issues. As such, return to work (RTW) for these workers becomes quite complicated. The longer the injured workers are away from work, the lower the likelihood of a successful RTW [2]. Various factors such as physical, psychological and social factors influence the process of RTW. Five stages have been identified for an injured worker to be ready for RTW in the 'Readiness for Return to Work' (RRTW) model. These stages, which are aligned with stages of change, are precontemplation, contemplation, preparation for action, action and maintenance [3, 4]. In the precontemplation stage, the injured worker has not started to think about RTW because the recovery is the priority. In the contemplation stage, as the injured worker is recovering, they are starting to consider RTW, but are not engaged in any practical plans for RTW. The preparation for action stage involves finding information regarding RTW, evaluating the capability of RTW, making plans and involvement in assistive programs to RTW. In the action stage, the injured worker converts the plan into action and gets back to work with different levels of capacity. The goal of the maintenance stage is to retain the returned injured workers at work. To reach this goal, some strategies such as receiving support from assistive programs, increasing the workload gradually, applying specific safety policies and strengthening exercise can be considered [5].
Journal of occupational rehabilitation, 2015
Purpose To examine the predictive validity of the Return-to-Work Self-Efficacy (RTWSE) Scale in terms of the scale's baseline absolute values and of changes in self-efficacy scores, with the outcome of return-to-work (RTW) status in a sample of injured workers with upper extremity and back musculoskeletal disorders. Methods RTWSE was measured with a 10-item scale assessing Overall RTWSE and three self-efficacy subdomains: (1) ability to cope with pain, (2) ability to obtain help from supervisor and (3) ability to obtain help from co-workers. Outcome measures included RTW status (yes/no) measured at 6- and 12-month follow-up. RTWSE improvement was defined as an increase in self-efficacy scores between baseline and 6-month follow-up time points. Logistic regression analyses were performed with RTW status as the dependent variable and adjusted for age, gender, educational level, personal income, pain site, pain severity, functional status, and depressive symptoms, and for baseline ...
The outcome of a return to work programme for injured workers with musculoskeletal disorders
2017
The studies contained in this thesis investigate the impact of a return to work (RTW) programme that has been conducted by Malaysian Social Security Organisation (SOCSO). Important findings on underlying issues of occupational performance and participation, health status, and emotional wellbeing of injured workers is presented using two frameworks, the Model of Human Occupation (MOHO) and International Classification of Functioning and Disabilities (ICF), and also the different phases of RTW programme (off-work, re-entry, maintenance and advancement phases). To examine the issues, these four phases were used to explore injured workers abilities and capacities. The injured workers also were interviewed about their experiences and expectations regarding the supports that they had obtained from the stakeholders whilst involved with SOCSO's RTW programme. The thesis is organised into the following chapters. The background of the research and appraisal of the underpinning theoretical...
Readiness for Return to Work Following Injury or Illness
Handbook of Complex Occupational Disability Claims, 2005
ABSTRACT Disability and return to work following an injury or illness has been recognized as a process influenced by a variety of social, psychological, and economic factors (1-6).The epidemiological and economic literature shows that characteristics of the work environment, health care, and the insurance system all have a significant influence on return-to-work outcomes independently of the underlying medical condition and other risk factors. The employee’s psychological processes initiating and sustaining return to work cannot be considered in isolation of these factors. Nevertheless, the employee remains the ultimate agent of change in the return-to-work process in that only he or she takes the final decision of going in for a day’s work.
BMC Public Health
Background This study examined how meeting the medical needs of injured workers after initial treatment may affect their return to work, using data from the Panel Study of Workers’ Compensation Insurance. Methods This study was designed as a longitudinal study, which used data from the second-year, follow-up survey conducted in the secondary cohort of the Panel Study of Workers’ Compensation Insurance. The odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval were estimated through binomial and multinomial logistic regression analyses to examine the effects of unmet medical needs on workers’ return to original work and return to work overall (including reemployment). Results The returned to original work OR of workers whose rehabilitation needs were met was 1.35 (1.12–1.63) while the return to work OR was 1.20 (1.03–1.41). The returned to original work OR of workers whose medical needs were met was 1.64 (1.18–2.27) while the return to work OR was 1.39 (1.07–1.80). In terms of disability ratin...
Quality of Life Research, 2007
Background The purpose of this study was to describe the health status and work limitations in injured workers with musculoskeletal disorders at 1 month post-injury, stratified by return-to-work status, and to document their return-towork trajectories 6 months post-injury. Methods A sample of 632 workers with a back or upper extremity musculoskeletal disorder, who filed a Workplace Safety and Insurance Board lost-time claim injury, participated in this prospective study. Participants were assessed at baseline (1 month post-injury) and at 6 months follow-up. Results One month post-injury, poor physical health, high levels of depressive symptoms and high work limitations are prevalent in workers, including in those with a sustained first return to work. Workers with a sustained first return to work report a better health status and fewer work limitations than those who experienced a recurrence of work absence or who never returned to work. Six months post-injury, the rate of recurrence of work absence in the trajectories of injured workers who have made at least one return to work attempt is high (38%), including the rate for workers with an initial sustained first return to work (27%). Conclusions There are return-to-work status specific health outcomes in injured workers. A sustained first return to work is not equivalent to a complete recovery from musculoskeletal disorders.
2020
Background: Physical injuries and psychological trauma frequently co-occur, and are associated with worse return-to-work outcomes. The Workers' Compensation Board of Alberta (WCB-Alberta) offers psychologically-based occupational rehabilitation programs for workers having sustained traumatic psychological injuries (TPI) in the workplace. These programs have not been formally evaluated since their inception. As a result, it is not clear how successful these programs are in facilitating return-to-work. Additionally, factors associated with return-to-work in workers with or without TPI and pain resulting from physical injuries who have been referred to psychologically-based rehabilitation services have not been identified. Objectives: The broad aim of this study was to identify factors associated with return-to-work in workers with or without comorbid physical injuries and TPI undergoing rehabilitation for TPI through WCB-Alberta. Methods: The current study employed a population-based, retrospective, longitudinal design. A secondary analysis of data on 488 injured workers undergoing rehabilitation for TPI between the years of 2014 and 2016 was conducted. We also examined group differences between those with or without comorbid TPI and pain resulting from physical injuries on demographic/administrative and injury-related variables, as well as psychological variables. The TPI only group consisted of 318 injured workers, and the TPI + painful physical injury group consisted of 170 injured workers. To identify factors associated with return-to-work at the time of program discharge, we used chi-squared tests of independence and independent samples ttests. Logistic regression analyses were conducted to model return-to-work prediction. Results: Return-to-work was less likely among workers with comorbid injuries, primarily physical injuries, longer average treatment durations, and among those admitted to higher iii intensity interventions (i.e., multidisciplinary treatment). Return-to-work was also less likely among workers with greater levels of self-reported pain intensity, depression, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms; namely, defensive avoidance. Workers with greater levels of self-reported readiness to return-to-work were more likely to successfully return-to-work. Conclusions: The current study provides evidence of factors associated with return-to-work in workers receiving psychologically-based rehabilitation services, which has not been extensively examined in the literature. The PTSD symptom domain of defensive avoidance was the only symptom domain significantly associated with return-to-work beyond the demographic/administrative and injury-related variables, appearing to be particularly important in relation to return-to-work outcomes. Further research with larger sample sizes is needed in order to delineate the relationships of psychological variables with return-to-work. Given power and sample size limitations, we were unable to examine whether factors associated with returnto-work differed in the TPI only and TPI + painful physical injury groups.
Chiropractic & Manual Therapies, 2016
Background: Work disability is a major personal, financial and public health burden. Predicting future work success is a major focus of research. Objectives: To identify common prognostic factors for return-to-work across different health and injury conditions and to describe their association with return-to-work outcomes. Methods: Medline, Embase, PsychINFO, Cinahl, and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews and the grey literature were searched from January 1, 2004 to September 1, 2013. Systematic reviews addressing return-to-work in various conditions and injuries were selected. Eligible studies were critically appraised using the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network criteria to identify low risk of bias reviews. Results: Of the 36,193 titles screened and the 94 eligible studies reviewed, 56 systematic reviews were accepted as low risk of bias. Over half of these focused on musculoskeletal disorders, which were primarily spine related (e.g., neck and low back pain). The other half of studies assessed workers with mental health or cardiovascular conditions, stroke, cancer, multiple sclerosis or other non-specified health conditions. Many factors have been assessed, but few consistently across conditions. Common factors associated with positive return-to-work outcomes were higher education and socioeconomic status, higher self-efficacy and optimistic expectations for recovery and return-to-work, lower severity of the injury/illness, return-to-work coordination, and multidisciplinary interventions that include the workplace and stakeholders. Common factors associated with negative return-to-work outcomes were older age, being female, higher pain or disability, depression, higher physical work demands, previous sick leave and unemployment, and activity limitations. Conclusions: Expectations of recovery and return-to-work, pain and disability levels, depression, workplace factors, and access to multidisciplinary resources are important modifiable factors in progressing return-to-work across health and injury conditions. Employers, healthcare providers and other stakeholders can use this information to facilitate return-to-work for injured/ill workers regardless of the specific injury or illness. Future studies should investigate novel interventions, and other factors that may be common across health conditions.