Hostname: page-component-7479d7b7d-wxhwt Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-07-11T12:11:50.801Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Psychosocial Profiles of Physically Injured Workers Referred for Occupational Rehabilitation

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 February 2012

Ian M. Leneham  and
Nigel V. Marsh
Ian M. Leneham
Affiliation:
University of New England, Australia
Nigel V. Marsh*
Affiliation:
University of New England, Australia
*
School of Psychology, University of New England, Armidale, NSW 2351, Australia E-mail: nigel.marsh@une.edu.au
Get access

Abstract

Measures of psychosocial risk factors have been found to be effective in predicting return to work (RTW) and other occupational rehabilitation outcomes, with greater degrees of effectiveness than medical factors. Therefore, determining the psychosocial profiles of workers' compensation claimants is likely to benefit occupational rehabilitation providers in facilitating the RTW of injured workers. This study examined the psychosocial profile of 125 physically injured workers referred for occupational rehabilitation. Of these, 53 (42%) were referred for assistance to return to their preinjury employer (RTW same employer) and the remaining 72 (58%) were referred for assistance to find new employment (redeployment). Results from the total sample indicated that 76% of claimants were at risk of developing a chronic condition and over 50% reported significant symptoms of depression and stress. The RTW same employer group had a significantly lower risk of developing chronic pain than the redeployment group and the redeployment group reported more symptoms of psychological distress (depression, anxiety and stress) than the RTW same employer group. There were no significant differences between the two groups on level of disability, health locus of control, or job satisfaction. The implications of these findings for intervention planning are outlined.

Type
Articles
Information
The Australian Journal of Rehabilitation Counselling , Volume 10 , Issue 2 , January 2004 , pp. 89 - 101
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2004

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Abenhaim, L., Rossignol, M., Valat, J., Nprdin, M., Avouac, B., Blotman, E., et al. (2000). The role of activity in the therapeutic management of back pain: Report on the international Paris task force on back pain. Spine, 25(4S), 1S–33S.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Alexy, W.D., & Webb, P.M. (1999). Utility of the MMPI-2 in work-hardening rehabilitation. Rehabilitation Psychology, 44(3), 266–273.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Anagnostis, C., Mayer, T.G., Gatchel, R.J., & Proctor, T.J. (2003). The Million Visual Analog Scale: Its utility for predicting tertiary rehabilitation outcomes. Spine, 28, 10–1051.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Antony, M.M., Bieling, P.J., Cox, B.J., Enns, M.W., & Swinson, R.P. (1998). Psychometric properties of the 42-item and 21-item versions of the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS) in clinical groups and a community sample. Psychological Assessment, 10, 176–181.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cohen, J. (1988). Statistical power analysis for the behavioral sciences (2nd ed.). Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.Google Scholar
Cooper, C.L., Sloan, S., & Williams, S. (1988). Occupational Stress Indicator. Windsor, UK: NFER-Nelson.Google Scholar
Dunstan, D. (2004). Evaluation of a biopsychosocial screening questionnaire: The prediction of poor return to work outcomes following compensable injury. Unpublished masters thesis, Charles Sturt University, Bathurst NSW, Australia.Google Scholar
Gatchel, R. (2004). Psychosocial factors that can influence the self-assessment of function. Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation, 14(3), 197–206.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hazard, R.G., Haugh, L.D., Reid, S., Preble, J.B., & MacDonald, L. (1996). Early prediction of chronic disability after occupational low back injury. Spine, 21(8), 945–951.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hazard, R.G., Haugh, L.D., Reid, S., McFarlane, G., & MacDonald, L. (1997). Early physician notification of patient disability risk and clinical guidelines after low back injury: A randomized, controlled trial. Spine, 22, 24–2951.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hunt, D.G., Zuberbier, O.A., Kozlowski, A.J., Berkowitz, J., Schultz, I.Z., Milner, R.A., et al. (2002). Are components of a comprehensive medical assessment predictive of work disability after an episode of occupational low back trouble? Spine, 27, 23–2715.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hunter, J. (2001). Physical symptoms and signs and chronic pain. Clinical Journal of Pain, 17(4S), S26–S32.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hurley, D.A., Dusoir, T.E., McDonough, S.M., Moore, A.P., Linton, S.J., & Baxter, G.D. (2000). Biopsychosocial screening questionnaire for patients with low back pain: Preliminary report of utility in physiotherapy practice in Northern Ireland. Clinical Journal of Pain, 16(3), 214–228.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Linton, S.J. (2000). A review of psychological risk factors in back and neck pain. Spine, 25, 9–1148.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Linton, S.J., & Boersma, K. (2003). Early identification of patients at risk of developing a persistent back problem: The predictive validity of the Orebro Musculoskeletal Pain Questionnaire. Clinical Journal of Pain, 19, 2–80.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Linton, S.J., & Hallden, K. (1998). Can we screen for problematic back pain? A screening questionnaire for predicting outcome in acute and subacute back pain. Clinical Journal of Pain, 14(3), 209–215.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lovibond, S.H., & Lovibond, P.F. (1995). Manual for the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (2nd ed.). Sydney, Australia: Psychology Foundation.Google Scholar
Lyne, K.D., Barrett, P.T., Williams, C., & Coaley, K. (2000). A psychometric evaluation of the Occupational Stress Indicator. Journal of Occupational and Organisational Psychology, 73, 195–220.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Million, R., Haavik Nilsen, K., Jayson, M.I.V., & Baker, R.D. (1981). Evaluation of low back pain and assessment of lumbar corsets with and without back supports. Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, 40, 449–454.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Nicholas, M.K. (2002). Work hardening/conditioning: Functional restoration and pain management programs for injured workers with no ‘red flag’ conditions. Pain Management and Research Centre, Royal North Shore Hospital and University of Sydney. Retrieved 10 9, 2004, from http://www.workcover.nsw.gov.au/NR/tdonlytes/84410C65-3F89-4851-95BB-lFD4BB270013/0/gen_workcond_4352.pdfGoogle Scholar
National Occupational Health and Safety Commission (NOHSC). (2003). Compendium of workers' compensation statistics, Australia 2001-02. Canberra, Australia: Author.Google Scholar
Price, R.H., Choi, J.N., & Vinokur, A.D. (2002). Links in the chain of adversity following job loss: How financial strain and loss of personal control lead to depression, impaired functioning, and poor health. Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, 7, 4–302.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Rainville, J., Sobel, J.B., Hartigan, O., & Wright, A. (1997). The effect of compensation involvement on the reporting of pain and disability by patients referred for rehabilitation of chronic low back pain. Spine, 22, 17–2016.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Rohling, M.L., Binder, L.M., & Langhinrichsen-Rohling, J. (1995). Money matters: A meta-analytic teview of the association between financial compensation and the experience and treatment of chronic pain. Health Psychology, 14, 6–537.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Schultz, I.Z., Crook, J., Meloche, G.R., Berkowitz, J., Milner, R., Zuberbier, O.A., et al. (2004). Psychosocial factors predictive of occupational low back disability: Towards development of a return-to-work model. Pain, 107, 77–85.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Teasell, R.W. (2001). Compensation and chronic pain. Clinical Journal of Pain, 17(4S), S46–S51.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Wallston, K.A., & Wallston, B.S. (1981). Health Locus of Control Scales. In Lefcourt, H.M. (Ed.), Research with the locus of control construct (vol. 1; pp. 189–243). New York: Academic Press.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Williams, C.W., Lees-Hayley, P.R., & Djanogly, S.E. (1999). Clinical scrutiny of litigants' self-teports. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 30, 361–367.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Winefield, A.H. (2002). Unemployment, underemployment, occupational sttess and psychological well-being. Australian Journal of Management, 27, Special issue, 137–148.Google Scholar
WorkCovet New South Wales. (2003a). Annual Report 2002/2003. Gosford, Australia: Author.Google Scholar
WorkCover New South Wales. (2003b). Work related activity programs for the prevention of long-term disability in workers with musculoskeletal injuries (non red flag conditions): Health care provider guidance material (Discussion paper). Gosford, Australia: Author.Google Scholar
Workplace Injury Management and Workers Compensation Act 1998 (NSW).Google Scholar