SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “Return to Work”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

SourceResearch connectionFrom yearThrough year

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 271 records · Page 15Linked to original sources

PubMed1983

[Rehabilitation and return to work of patients after aortocoronary bypass].

A pilot project with medical, physical and psychosocial evaluation and a physical and psychosocial rehabilitation program included 59 men, under age 60, inactive for less than one year and who underwent aortocoronary bypass surgery between november 1978 and march 1980. A control group of 60 comparable patients was studied by questionnaire one year after the operation. The percentage of return-to-work was not significatively different: respectively 92 p. 100 and 89 p. 100. A previous study on a similar population determined 9 predictive sociodemographic and medical factors: age, angina class, duration of symptoms, associated vascular disease, non cardiovascular illness, education, physical workload, length of preoperative unemployment, annual income. The evaluations of this study showed the importance of the psychosocial factors and alcoholism. In comparison with our previous studies, the increased percentage of return-to-work (from 69 p. 100 to 89 p. 100) is mostly due to a shorter preoperative period of inactivity; the percentage of patients operated on within three months of inactivity increased from 44 p. 100 to 74 p. 100 in the last ten years. In the group of patients with a good or excellent preoperative prognosis, 94 p. 100 were working after one year. We conclude that a strategy for improving return-to-work after surgery is to decrease the period of preoperative inactivity. By using nine objective predictive factors and a psychosocial evaluation, it is possible to screen patients with a poor return-to-work prognosis and to submit them to an individualized rehabilitation program.

Adult↗

PubMed1995

The effect of streptokinase on return to work 18 months after a first myocardial infarction.

In order to assess the impact of thrombolytic therapy on return to work eighteen months after a first myocardial infarction, 32 patients treated with streptokinase were compared with 30 patients not treated with streptokinase. The study was designed as a historical cohort study. The patients in both groups had continuous chest pain of less than six hours prior to admission and electrocardiographic changes consistent with acute myocardial infarction (MI). The two groups were comparable with respect to medical variables related to their myocardial infarction and to educational level. A total of 17 patients (53%) in the streptokinase group and 16 (53%) among controls had stopped working eighteen months after their MI. An association between the treatment and the working status could not be found (relative risk = 1.0) nor could it be found if the figures were corrected for deaths and retirements because of age. In conclusion, this study could not demonstrate any beneficial effect of thrombolytic therapy on the return to work eighteen months after an initial myocardial infarction.

Adult↗

PubMed1996

[Prognosis of return to work after streptokinase-treated acute myocardial infarction].

In order to assess the impact of thrombolytic therapy on return to work 18 months after a first myocardial infarction 32 patients treated with streptokinase were compared to 30 patients not treated with streptokinase. The study was designed as a historical cohort study. The patients in both groups had continuous chest pain of less than six hours prior to admission and electrocardiographic changes consistent with acute myocardial infarction. The two groups were comparable with respect to medical variables related to their myocardial infarction and to educational level. A total of 17 patients (53%) in the streptokinase group and 16 (53%) among controls had stopped working 18 months after their MI. An association between the treatment and the working status could not be found (relative risk = 1.0) nor could it be found if the figures were corrected for deaths and retirements because of age. In conclusion, this study could not demonstrate any beneficial effect of thrombolytic therapy on the return to work 18 months after an initial myocardial infarction.

Adult↗

PubMed2000

Return to work after sickness absence due to back disorders--a systematic review on intervention strategies.

OBJECTIVES: The aim was to review the literature with regard to the effectiveness of intervention programmes for the prevention of aggravation of back disorders or prolonged duration of sickness absence. METHODS: A systematic search of the literature was performed using three groups of key words and inclusion/exclusion criteria. Effectiveness was evaluated using two measures: the difference between intervention and referent groups in return to work, and the fraction of sickness absence among referent groups that could be prevented if these referents had undergone the same intervention (preventable fraction). RESULTS: Twelve articles with quantitative information on the effect of ergonomic interventions on return to work were included. In eight studies, introduction of a back-school programme was the preferred intervention, combining exercise and functional conditioning, and training in working methods and lifting techniques. In seven out of eight back-school studies, return to work was significantly better in the intervention group. Intervention after 60 days, in the subacute phase of back pain, showed the most promising results. In these studies the preventable fraction varied between -11% and 80%, largely depending on the stage and phase of back disorders and the time of follow-up. The success of intervention also depended on the profile of the referents when left untampered. In all studies compliance during the intervention was fairly good, but there was a lack of information on sustainability of the intervention during the follow-up and on recurrence of back complaints and consequent sickness absence. CONCLUSIONS: Few studies were performed to assess the outcome return to work after ergonomic intervention. However, there is evidence that intervention in the subacute phase of back pain is preferable. Future intervention studies should address intervention sustainability and recurrence of sickness absence due to back pain over at least a 1-year follow-up period.

Absenteeism↗

PubMed1989

Determinants of return-to-work among low back pain patients.

This prospective study identifies physical, behavioral, and psychosocial correlates of subsequent employment status in a sample of low back pain patients. The sample of 150 subjects was drawn from 2 populations of persons with chronic low back pain: 87 individuals who were receiving care at a university low back pain clinic, and 63 individuals who had applied for (but not yet received) Social Security compensation on the basis of low back pain. All subjects had worked at least 3 months prior to their latest unemployment period and were currently out of work. Initial assessment included a medical history, physical examination, biomechanical testing, psychiatric interview, and MMPI testing. All subjects were followed up 6 months later to determine whether they had returned to work. Cross-sectional group comparisons at the time of initial assessment showed that, after controlling for the effects of age, the two samples differed on several physical and biomechanical measures, the Social Security group reflecting a more chronic picture. Group differences on physical variables were found, but most significant differences disappeared when adjusted for length of time out-of-work. Longitudinal analyses showed that few objective physical or biomechanical measures were associated with return-to-work at 6 months, while a number of psychosocial variables were significant predictors of 6-month work status. The data suggest that exclusive reliance on the physical examination to determine level of disability, without consideration of psychosocial conditions, and without adjusting for the confounding effects of age and length of time out-of-work, is not empirically justified. Logistic regression analysis was used to ascertain the relative contribution of each predictor to outcome and to illustrate the hypothetical effects of changes in the levels of selected risk factors on the likelihood of return-to-work. Implications for interventions with low back pain patients are discussed and future research directions suggested.

Age Factors↗

PubMed1985

Maternal-infant separation and breast-feeding. The return to work or school.

Breast feeding is now practiced by more than 50% of new mothers, many of whom return to work or school within six to eight weeks postpartum. Their breast-feeding experience need not, and should not, be terminated because of this temporary, though regular, separation from their infants. The obstetrician has a role in facilitating continued breast-feeding after the return to work or school. Counseling these patients should include a discussion of hand expression and breast pumping, the means of storing human milk, infant changes related to regular maternal absences and avoiding exhaustion.

Breast Feeding↗

PubMed1994

Return to work following an aquafitness and muscle strengthening program for the low back injured.

Our purpose, in this prospective clinical study, was to identify the best predictors of 2-month return to work or retraining for a group of low back injured subjects (n = 40) who completed at least 8 weeks of a community-based rehabilitation program that combined aerobic and flexibility exercise conducted in the water (aquafitness) with muscle strength and endurance training. Baseline demographic characteristics and changes in physical fitness, pain, disability, and psychological well-being during the course of program participation were compared between two groups of low back injured subjects: those who returned to work (RTW) [n = 24], and those who did not (N-RTW) [n = 16]. Subjects in both groups showed comparable improvement in measures of physical fitness at 8 weeks. However, multivariate analyses showed significant between-group differences in self-report measures. The RTW group showed significant improvement in measures of pain, disability, anxiety, and vigor while self-esteem and affect remained stable. The N-RTW group displayed no change in pain and disability variables and had significant deterioration in mean overall psychological well-being over time. The best predictors of return to work using logistic regression analyses were a first injury rather than a repeat injury to the lower back, and stability in self-esteem. Suggestions are offered for further research to examine the benefits of aquafit exercise for the low back injured, for additional interventions for those with a reinjury, and for maintaining or enhancing self-esteem as a treatment goal.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

Return to work after first myocardial infarction in 1991-1996 in Finland.

BACKGROUND: A substantial number of myocardial infarctions (MI) occur at working age. It is, however, insufficiently well known how many of these patients return to work after their MI. METHODS: Sources of information were the Hospital Discharge Register, the Causes of Death Register and the registers for social security benefits. Availability for the labour market was used as the return to work criterion. Altogether 10,244 persons (8,733 men, 1,511 women) aged 35-59 years had their first MI or coronary death during 1991-1994 in Finland. Persons who survived for 28 days and were not on pension at the time of MI were included in a two-year follow-up. RESULTS: Twenty-nine per cent of patients were already pensioned at the time of their first MI. Of the patients not pensioned at the time of their MI, 4,929 were alive two years after the event. Of them, 38% of men and 40% of women received disability pension, 3% of both genders were on sick leave and 1% of both genders were on unemployment pension. The remainder, 58% of men and 56% of women, did not receive any of these benefits, thus, being available to the labour force. CONCLUSIONS: Nearly one-third of persons having their first MI at working age were already out of the labour force at the time of their MI. Of those who were not pensioned and who survived the event, slightly more than half were available to the labour market two years later.

Adult↗

PubMed2006

Ethnic background does not influence outcome for return-to-work in work-related interdisciplinary rehabilitation for long-term pain: 1- and 3-year follow-up.

BACKGROUND: It is often suggested that immigrants with long-term pain do not benefit from rehabilitation to the same extent as native Swedish patients. In this study, an 8-week rehabilitation programme was evaluated according to its adaptation for immigrants. OBJECTIVES: To establish whether there is a difference between immigrants and native Swedes concerning: (i) return-to-work, the patients' own estimation and their actual ability; (ii) higher level of activity; (iii) reduction in pain and analgesic use. PATIENTS: A total of 67 patients with persistent non-malignant pain completed the rehabilitation programme. Thirty (45%) of the patients were immigrants. METHODS: A 1- and a 3-year follow-up were made to compare the outcome between the 2 groups. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in the return-to-work rate between immigrants and native Swedes. However, the patients' prediction of their ability to return to work was higher among the non-immigrants. The level of activity was lower and pain intensity and use of analgesics were higher among the immigrants than the non-immigrants. CONCLUSION: Immigrants can benefit from a rehabilitation programme to the same extent as native Swedes concerning return-to-work rate, but seem to have limitations in assimilating the other objectives of the programme.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Return to work as a measure of outcome in adults hospitalized for acute burn treatment.

Rehabilitation of patients with burn injuries is receiving renewed interest because survival has improved, and health reform has mandated outcomes assessment. To determine factors affecting return to work, a survey was conducted among 234 employed patients treated from 1986 through 1993. The mean burn size was 13.3% total body surface area. Patients returned to work in a mean of 14.3 weeks; a number initially returned to light-duty or part-time jobs as a "bridge" to full-time employment. Length of hospitalization, number of surgeries, total and full-thickness burn size, and subjective assessments by patients of their functional ability correlated with time off work. Patients with health insurance were more likely to resume work than was expected, whereas those covered by Medicaid and those involved in injury-related lawsuits were less likely to return to work. It is hoped that this information can be used to design interventions aimed at improving this outcome of burn treatment.

Acute Disease↗

PubMed2004

[Prospective study of the outcome at one year of patients with chronic low back pain in a program of intensive functional restoration and ergonomic intervention. Factors predicting their return to work].

OBJECTIVES: Evaluation of 1-year outcome after patients with chronic low back pain participated in an intensive functional restoration program associated with an ergonomic intervention on the workplace. Study of the factors predicts a return to work. METHODS: Prospective study of a cohort of 87 patients face major difficulties due to low back pain at work. Patients who visited a multidisciplinary clinic were included. Parameters, evaluating physical and psychological status, quality of life, presence at work, length of sick leaves, were determined before and after the program and at 6 and 12 months' followup. The correlation between these parameters and presence at work at 1 year was studied. RESULTS: A total of 86 patients completed the program; three were lost to followup at 1 year. Ergonomic interventions were tried in 53 patients. All parameters were improved at the end of the program and remained significantly improved at 12 months. A total of 90% of the patients returned to work at the end of the program, whereas only 17% were at work before; 72% were at work in 1 year. The number of sick leave days decreased by 60%. The Dallas index at the beginning and the end of the program, the number of sick leave days before the program and score on the item "feels able to work" correlated with the presence at work in 1 year. There was no correlation between presence at work and physical parameters. CONCLUSION: This study shows the effect of the program and determines factors predictive of successful return to work for patients with chronic low back pain. Further data are necessary to discuss the specific effect of ergonomic interventions.

Absenteeism↗

PubMed2004

[Chronicity, recurrence, and return to work in low back pain: common prognostic factors].

OBJECTIVE: To determine the common risk factors of recurrence, chronicity and non return to work in low back pain. MATERIAL AND METHOD: A systematic review of the literature was done by searches of Medline, Embase, Pascal, the Cochrane database and also in the unindexed literature. Keywords used were low back pain, chronic, risk factors, recurrence, predictive value of tests, prognosis, confounding factors. Studies were assessed by two readers using the ANAES (French Agency for Health Assessment) scale allowing classification into high-, moderate- and low-quality trials. The scientific evidence level of the identified risk factors depend on the methodological quality of the studies, the number of studies in agreement, the coherence of their results and their clinical relevance. RESULTS: Fifty-four high quality studies were included. Several prognostic factors are common to the three described clinical situations. A history of low back pain (including the concept of pain severity, duration, disability, leg pain, related sickness leave and a history of spinal surgery), low level of job satisfaction and poor general health are highlighted with a strong level of evidence. Socioprofessionel and psychological factors including employment status, amount of wage, workers' compensation, and depression were found but with moderate level of evidence. Physical factors including lifting time per day and work postures were also found with moderate level of evidence. CONCLUSION: This study confirm that several prognostic factors are commun to recurrence, chronicity and non return to work in low back pain. Early identification of these factors is important in understanding, and hopefully preventing, the recurrence or the progression to chronicity and disability in low back trouble.

Chronic Disease↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Recidivism and return to work posttransplant. Recipients with substance abuse histories.

The purpose of this retrospective survey was to describe posttransplant recidivism and return to work rates for adult liver transplant recipients with histories of alcohol-related liver disease (ARLD) or ARLD and polysubstance use. Recidivism from alcohol was the primary substance analyzed. One hundred and twenty-two adult liver transplant recipients comprised the convenience sample; 98 had histories of ARLD and 24 had both ARLD and polysubstance use. Using a mailed survey, the recipients were asked about their drug and alcohol use (both prior to and following the transplant); family and social issues; and whether they were working posttransplant. The two subgroups of recipients differed with respect to the variables gender, age, and years posttransplant with the ARLD/polysubstance using recipients more likely to be male, younger, and more recent transplant recipients than those with ARLD, alone. Recidivism and return to work rates differed for the two subgroups.

Adult↗

PubMed1993

Returning to work after a unilateral hand fracture.

We complied a case series involving 556 employed patients who sustained unilateral hand fractures requiring open reduction and internal fixation and a modification of their normal work activities and schedules. Time from injury to limited duty averaged 5 days, with 62% of the patients returning to work 1 day after surgery. Time from injury to resuming regular duty averaged 56 days. Both sexes averaged a return to work on limited duty after 5 days, but women returned to regular duty an average 5 days later than men. Patients with workers' compensation injuries, joint fractures, multiple fractures, tendon and/or nerve disruptions, and fractures requiring metal fixation rather than periosteal sutures required longer periods on off-duty and limited-duty statuses.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2000

The use of nonorganic signs and symptoms as a screening tool for return-to-work in patients with acute low back pain.

STUDY DESIGN: A longitudinal cohort study of patients with acute, work-related low back pain undergoing physical therapy treatment. OBJECTIVE: To determine cut-off values maximizing the predictive ability of the nonorganic signs and symptoms in patients with acute, work-related low back pain and to calculate the predictive validity of the signs and symptoms, alone and in combination, using an outcome of return to work within 4 weeks of initiating treatment. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Waddell et al have proposed nonorganic signs and symptoms as screening tools in patients with chronic low back pain for detecting the presence of abnormal illness behavior and identifying patients in need of further evaluation to improve the likelihood of a successful treatment outcome. METHODS: Consecutive patients referred to physical therapy with work-related low back pain of less than 2 weeks' duration were examined for the presence of nonorganic signs and symptoms before initiating physical therapy treatment. The outcome measure used was the ability to return to work without restrictions within 4 weeks of the initial evaluation. RESULTS: Sensitivity, specificity, and likelihood ratios were calculated for all possible cut-off values for the nonorganic signs, symptoms, and the nonorganic index (signs and symptoms). The best cut-off values were two or more signs (negative likelihood ratio = 0.75), three or more symptoms (negative likelihood ratio = 0.62), and an index score of three or more (negative likelihood ratio = 0.59). Area under a receiver operator characteristic curve for the signs, symptoms, and index were 0.60, 0.63, and 0.63, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Because the nonorganic tests are purported to serve as screening tests, cut-off values were selected that minimized false-negative results. Even with optimal cut-off values, none of the nonorganic tests served as effective screening tools. Other screening tools may prove more effective for the early identification of patients at increased risk for delay in returning to work after an episode of acute low back pain.

Acute Disease↗

PubMed1997

Relapse and short sickness absence for back pain in the six months after return to work.

OBJECTIVES: To measure the incidence of back pain relapse (causing three consecutive days off work on medical advice) and of short sickness absence (less than three consecutive days), and to determine whether the incidence of such events was affected by overall pain and specific pain related to simple daily movements (functional capacity) assessed at discharge. METHODS: A cohort of workers with a first compensated episode of back pain was prospectively followed up from return to work after rehabilitative treatment. Follow up among 230 workers was carried out monthly by phone for a maximum of six months. Crude and adjusted rate ratios (RRs) along with 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were estimated with the Cox's proportional hazards model. RESULTS: Within six months of return to work, 29 workers (12.6%) had relapsed, and another 15 workers (6.5%) had a short sickness absence. 50% of relapses had occurred within 42 days of return to work whereas this figure was 28 days for short sickness absence. In a multivariate model that considered pain and clinical variables at discharge only a scale combining all pain variables (specific daily movements as well as the visual analog overall pain scale) contributed to relapse and short sickness absence as the outcome (RR (95% CI)) (1.53 (0.96-2.43)); the same was true in a model considering pain and workers' views on desired changes to work conditions (1.60; 1.08 to 2.36). CONCLUSIONS: Incidence of relapse or short sickness absence in the first six months after return to work was 19.1%. Of all measured prognostic variables (sociodemographic, clinical, workers' views, and pain), only overall pain and pain associated with carrying out simple daily movements were helpful in predicting relapse or short sickness absence.

Absenteeism↗

PubMed1999

Patient satisfaction, function and return to work after knee arthroplasty.

We investigated the working status during 2 years before and 2 years after primary knee prosthetic operation for arthrosis in order to identify preoperative factors predicting patient satisfaction, function and working capacity. 162 patients (86 women) younger than 60 years of age when operated on with a knee prosthesis during 1993 were studied. 91% of the patients returned a Nottingham Health Profile (NHP) questionnaire, and the Social Insurance Office could supply data on all patients. There was a positive association between the duration of pre- and postoperative sick-leave in the patients who returned to work. Preoperative sick-leave longer than 180 days increased the risk of postoperative disability pension, which was not found to be influenced by the grade of the work. Among the 52 patients who returned to work postoperatively, all 6 NHP functional categories were better in the patients with less than 180 days of preoperative sick-leave than in the patients with more than 180 days of preoperative sick-leave. The overall patient satisfaction was greater among patients who went back to work postoperatively. We conclude that long sick-leave before a knee prosthetic operation increases the risk of long postoperative sick-leave and disability pension and impairs the quality of life.

Arthritis↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Return to work after surgical treatment of varicosities of the lower limb].

Factors which the duration of time off work after surgical treatment of venous insufficiency of the legs were studied in 3000 patients undergoing surgery in our institution between 1985 and 1990. Three variables significantly influenced return to work at 2 weeks (RW2w). The first was socio-professional group. All patients in the first was socio-professional group. All patients in the professions and 95 per cent of tradesmen or freelance workers had returned to work after 2 weeks, while 40 per cent of civil servants and 35 per cent of employees in private organisations were still off work. Time spent of work was 23 +/- 10 days in civil servants, 4 +/- 3 days in the professions and 5 +/- 2 days in tradesmen of freelance workers. The second was the type of anesthesia with or without hospitalisation, local or general. The final variable was the physical effort involved in work, the RW2w was 72 par cent in patients in whom such effort was mild or moderate, and 56 per cent in effort was considerable. The second was the type of anesthesia with or without hospitalisation, local or general. The final variable was the physical effort involved in work. The RW2w was 72 percent in patients in whom such effort was mild or moderate, and 56 per cent in effort was considerable. It is concluded that the rapidity of return to work was not as good as could legitimately be expected following an operation with nil mortality and extremely limited morbidity.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Absenteeism↗