Top

Published in:

Open Access 01-09-2009

Determinants of Return to Work in Patients with Hand Disorders and Hand Injuries

Authors: Lonneke Opsteegh, Heleen A. Reinders-Messelink, Donna Schollier, Johan W. Groothoff, Klaas Postema, Pieter U. Dijkstra, Corry K. van der Sluis

Published in: Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation | Issue 3/2009

Abstract

Introduction Return to work (RTW) in patients with hand disorders and hand injuries is determined by several determinants not directly related to the physical situation. Besides biomedical determinants, work-related and psychosocial determinants may influence RTW as well. This study is conducted to investigate the influence of these potential determinants on RTW in patients with hand disorders and hand injuries. Methods Included 91 patients who were operatively treated for a hand disorder or a hand injury, and who were employed prior to surgery. Patients answered several questionnaires on the aforementioned categories. Potential determinants significantly related to RTW in a univariate analysis were entered in a logistic regression for the total group and the acutely injured patients separately. Results Pain, accident location, job independence and symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) were univariately associated with RTW. Pain was a determinant for late RTW in the total group and accident location and symptoms of PTSD in the acutely injured group. Conclusion Pain, accident location and symptoms of PTSD were most important in resuming work in hand injured patients or in patients with a hand disorder. These findings may indicate that attention should be paid to the treatment of pain, and to the development of symptoms of PTSD during rehabilitation. It may be necessary to make extra efforts aimed at RTW in patients who sustained their injury on the job.

Available only for authorised users

Bear-Lehman J. Factors affecting return to work after hand injury. Am J Occup Ther. 1983;27:189–94.

Bruyns CNP, Jaquet JB, Schreuders TAR, Kalmijn S, Kuypers PDL, Hovius SER. Predictors for return to work in patients with median and ulnar nerve injuries. J Hand Surg. 2003;28A:28–34. doi:10.1053/jhsu.2003.50026.

Kasdan ML, June LA. Returning to work after a unilateral hand fracture. J Occup Med. 1993;35:132–5. doi:10.1097/00043764-199302000-00013.PubMedCrossRef

Meiners PM, Coert JH, Robinson PH, Meek MF. Impairment and employment issues after nerve repair in the hand and forearm. Disabil Rehabil. 2005;27:617–23. doi:10.1080/09638280500030423.PubMedCrossRef

Rusch MD, Dzwierzynski WW, Sanger JR, Pruit NT, Siewert AD. Return to work outcomes after work-related hand trauma: the role of causal attributions. J Hand Surg. 2003;28A:673–7. doi:10.1016/S0363-5023(03)00178-3.

Skov O, Jeune B, Lauritsen JM, Barfred T. Time off work after occupational hand injuries. J Hand Surg. 1999;24B:187–9.

Health and Safety Executive [HSE] Guidance. Working together to prevent sickness absence becoming job loss—practical advice for safety and other trade union representatives. UK: Health and Safety Executive [HSE] Guidance; 2005.

Post M, Krol B, Groothoff JW. Work-related determinants of return to work in employees on long-term sickness absence. Disabil Rehabil. 2005;27:481–8. doi:10.1080/09638280400018601.PubMedCrossRef

Gustafsson M, Ahlstrom G. Problems experienced during the first year of an acute traumatic hand injury—a prospective study. J Clin Nurs. 2004;13:986–95. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2702.2004.01019.x.PubMedCrossRef

10.

Krause N, Lund T. Returning to work after occupational injury. In: Barling J, Frone M, editors. The psychology of workplace safety. 1st ed. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association; 2004. p. 265–95.

11.

Wahi Michener SK, Humphrey BA, Stepp DR, Moyers PA. Relationships among grip strength, functional outcomes, and work performance following hand trauma. Work. 2001;16:209–17.

12.

Campbell DA, Kay SPJ. The hand injury severity scoring system. J Hand Surg. 1996;21B:295–8.

13.

Mink van der Molen AB, Matloub HS, Dzwierzynski W, Sanger JR. The hand injury severity scoring system and workers’ compensation cases in Wisconsin, USA. J Hand Surg. 1999;24B:184–6.

14.

Watts AMI, Greenstock M, Cole RP. Outcome following the rehabilitation of hand trauma patients. J Hand Surg. 1998;23B:485–9.

15.

Grob M, Papadopulos NA, Zimmermann A, Biemer E, Kovacs L. The psychological impact of severe hand injury. J Hand Surg. 2008;33E:358–62.

16.

Amick BC, Habeck RV, Ossmann J, Fossel AH, Keller R, Katz JN. Predictors of successful work role functioning after carpal tunnel release surgery. J Occup Environ Med. 2004;46:490–500. doi:10.1097/01.jom.0000126029.07223.a0.PubMedCrossRef

17.

Janssen N, van den Heuvel WPM, Beurskens AJHM, Nijhuis FJN, Schröer CAP, van Eijk JTM. The demand-control-support model as predictors of return to work. Int J Rehabil Res. 2003;26:1–9. doi:10.1097/00004356-200303000-00001.PubMedCrossRef

18.

Krause N, Frank JW, Dasinger LK, Sullivan TJ, Sinclair SJ. Determinants of duration of disability and return-to-work after work-related injury and illness: challenges for future research. Am J Ind Med. 2001;40:464–84. doi:10.1002/ajim.1116.PubMedCrossRef

19.

Grunert BK, Dzwierzynski WW. Prognostic factors for return to work following severe hand injuries. Tech Hand Up Extrem Surg. 1997;1:213–8.PubMedCrossRef

20.

Gustafsson M, Amilon A, Ahlstrom G. Trauma-related distress and mood disorders in the early stage of an acute traumatic hand injury. J Hand Surg. 2003;28B:332–8.

21.

American Psychiatric association. Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders. 4th ed. Washington DC: American Psychiatric Association; 2000.

22.

Grunert BK, Smith CJ, Fehring BA, Matloub HS, Sanger JR, Yousif NJ. Early psychological aspects of severe hand injury. J Hand Surg. 1988;13B:177–80.

23.

Grunert BK, Devine CA, McCallum-Burke S, Matloub HS, Sanger JR, Yousif NJ. On-site work evaluations: desensitisation for avoidance reactions following severe hand injuries. J Hand Surg. 1989;14B:239–41.

24.

Grunert BK, Devine CA, Matloub HS, Sanger JR, Yousif NJ, Anderson RC, et al. Psychological adjustment following work-related hand injury: 18-month follow-up. Ann Plast Surg. 1992;29:537–42.PubMed

25.

Regenold M, Sherman MF. Getting back to work: self-efficacy as a predictor of employment outcome. Psychiatr Rehabil J. 1999;22:361–7.

26.

Labriola M, Lund T, Christensen KB, Albertsen K, Bültmann U, Jensen JN, et al. Does self-efficacy predict return-to-work after sickness absence? A prospective study among 930 employees with sickness absence for three weeks or more. Work. 2007;29:233–8.PubMed

27.

Hepp U, Moergeli H, Büchi S, Wittmann L, Schnyder U. Coping with serious accidental injury: a one-year follow-up study. Psychother Psychosom. 2005;74:379–86. doi:10.1159/000087786.PubMedCrossRef

28.

Kuwahara A, Nishino Y, Ohkubo T, Tsuji I, Hisamichi S, Hosokawa T. Reliability and validity of the multidimensional health locus of control scale in Japan: relationship with demographic factors and health-related behavior. Tohoku J Exp Med. 2004;203:37–45. doi:10.1620/tjem.203.37.PubMedCrossRef

29.

Lee PW, Ho ES, Tsang AK, Cheng JC, Leung PC, Cheng YH, et al. Psychosocial adjustment of victims of occupational hand injuries. Soc Sci Med. 1985;20:493–7. doi:10.1016/0277-9536(85)90365-X.PubMedCrossRef

30.

MacKenzie EJ, Morris JA, Jurkovich GJ, Yasui Y, Cushing BM, Burgess AR, et al. Return to work following injury: the role of economic, social and job-related factors. Am J Public Health. 1998;88:1630–7. doi:10.2105/AJPH.88.11.1630.PubMedCrossRef

31.

Michaels AJ, Michaels CE, Moon CH, Zimmerman MA, Peterson C, Rodriguez JL. Psychosocial factors limit outcomes after trauma. J Trauma. 1998;44:644–8. doi:10.1097/00005373-199804000-00013.PubMedCrossRef

32.

Nijboer ID, Gründemann RWM, Andries F.Werkhervatting na arbeidsongeschiktheid: onderzoek naar de kans op werkhervatting na een half tot anderhalf jaar na het einde van het ziektewetjaar en naar de kans van hervatters om aan het werk te komen bij de oude of een nieuwe werkgever. ‘s-Gravenhage, Ministerie van Sociale Zaken en Werkgelegenheid. 1993.

33.

Gustafsson M, Persson LO, Amilon A. A qualitative study of stress factors in the early stage of an acute traumatic hand injury. J Adv Nurs. 2000;32:1333–40. doi:10.1046/j.1365-2648.2000.01630.x.PubMedCrossRef

34.

Anderson RC, Grunert BK. A cognitive behavioral approach to the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder after work-related trauma. Prof Saf. 1997;42:39–43.

35.

Lombardi DA, Sorock GS, Lesch MF, Hauser R, Eisen EA, Herrick RF, et al. A reliability study of potential risk factors for acute traumatic occupational hand injuries. Am J Ind Med. 2002;42:336–43. doi:10.1002/ajim.10120.PubMedCrossRef

36.

Asmundson GJCA, Norton GR, Allerdings MD, Norton PJ, Larsen DK. Posttraumatic stress disorder and work-related injury. J Anxiety Disord. 1998;12:57–70. doi:10.1016/S0887-6185(97)00049-2.PubMedCrossRef

37.

MacDonald HA, Colotla V, Flamer S, Karlinsky H. Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in the workplace: a descriptive study of workers experiencing PTSD resulting from work injury. J Occup Rehabil. 2003;13:63–77. doi:10.1023/A:1022563930482.PubMedCrossRef

38.

Guzman J, Yassi A, Cooper JE, Khokhar J. Return to work after occupational injury. Can Fam Physician. 2002;48:1912–9.PubMed

39.

Klein Hesselink DJ. Afwezigheid verklaard: literatuurstudie naar determinanten van ziekteverzuim en arbeidsongeschiktheid. Amsterdam: Nederlands Instituut voor Arbeidsomstandigheden (NIA); 1993.

40.

van Poppel MNM, de Vet HCW, Koes BW, Smid T, Bouter LM. Measuring sick leave: a comparison of self-reported data on sick leave and data from company records. Occup Med. 2002;52:485–90. doi:10.1093/occmed/52.8.485.CrossRef

41.

Schreiber S, Galai-Gat T. Clinical note: uncontrolled pain following physical injury as the core-trauma in post-traumatic stress disorder. Pain. 1993;54:107–10. doi:10.1016/0304-3959(93)90105-X.PubMedCrossRef

42.

Mink van der Molen AB, Ettema AM, Hovius SER. Outcome of hand trauma: the hand injury severity scoring system (HISS) and subsequent impairment and disability. J Hand Surg. 2003;28B:295–9.

43.

Saxena P, Cutler L, Feldberg L. Assessment of the severity of hand injuries using ‘hand injury severity score’, and its correlation with the functional outcome. Injury. 2004;35:511–6.PubMedCrossRef

44.

Chung KC, Pillsbury MS, Walters MR, Haywood RA. Reliability and validity testing of the Michigan hand outcomes questionnaire. J Hand Surg. 1998;23:575–87.CrossRef

45.

Carlier IVE, van Uchelen JJ, Lamberts RD, Gersons BPR. Een korte screeningstest voor de diagnose posttraumatische stressstoornis. Tijdschrift voor Psychiatrie. 1996;38:624–9.

46.

Carlier IVE, Lamberts RD, van Uchelen AJ, Gersons BPR. Clinical utility of a brief diagnostic test for posttraumatic stress disorder. Psychosom Med. 1998;60:42–7.PubMed

47.

Sherer M, Maddux JE, Mercadante B, Prentice-Dunn S, Jacobs B, Rogers RW. The self-efficacy scale: construction and validation. Psychol Rep. 1982;51:663–71.

48.

Bosscher RJ, Smit JH, Kempen GIJM. Algemene compententieverwachtingen bij ouderen - een onderzoek naar de psychometrische kenmerken van de Algemene Competentieschaal (ALCOS). Nederlands Tijdschrift voor de Psychologie en Haar Grensgebieden. 1997;52:239–48.

49.

Bosscher RJ, Smit JH. Confirmatory factor analysis of the general self-efficacy scale. Behav Res Ther. 1998;36:339–43. doi:10.1016/S0005-7967(98)00025-4.PubMedCrossRef

50.

van Veldhoven M, Meijman TF, Broersen JPJ, Fortuin RJ. Handleiding VBBA. 2nd ed. Amsterdam: SKB Vragenlijstservices; 2002.

51.

Schreurs PJG, van de Willige G, Brosschot JF, Tellegen B, Graus GMH. De Utrechtse Copinglijst (UCL): Omgaan met problemen en gebeurtenissen. Lisse: Swets & Zeitlinger Test Services; 1993.

52.

Sanderman R, Ormel J. De Utrechtse Copinglijst (UCL): validiteit en betrouwbaarheid. Gedrag en Gezondheid. 1992;20:32–7.

53.

D’Zurilla TJ, Nezu AM, Maydeu-Olivares A. Social problem solving inventory-revised (SPSI-R): technical manual. North Tonawanda: Multihealth Systems; 2002.

54.

Schaufeli W, van Dierendonck D. De betrouwbaarheid en validiteit van de Utrechtse Coping Lijst: een longitudinaal onderzoerzoek bij schoolverlaters. Gedrag en Gezondheid. 1992;20:38–45.

55.

Sadowski C, Moore LA, Kelley ML. Psychometric properties of the social problem solving inventory (SPSI) with normal and emotionally disturbed adolescents. J Abnorm Child Psychol. 1994;22:487–500. doi:10.1007/BF02168087.PubMedCrossRef

56.

Siu AMH, Shek DTL. The Chinese version of the social-problem solving inventory: some initial results on reliability and validity. J Clin Psychol. 2005;61:347–60. doi:10.1002/jclp.20023.PubMedCrossRef

57.

van Eijk LM, Kempen GIJM, van Sonderen FLP. Een korte schaal voor het meten van sociale steun bij ouderen: de SSL12-I. Tijdschr Gerontol Geriatr. 1994;25(19):2–198.

58.

Kempen GIJM, van Eijk LM. The psychometric properties of the SS12-I, a short scale for measuring social support in the elderly. Soc Indic Res. 1995;35:303–13. doi:10.1007/BF01079163.CrossRef

Title: Determinants of Return to Work in Patients with Hand Disorders and Hand Injuries
Authors: Lonneke Opsteegh
Heleen A. Reinders-Messelink
Donna Schollier
Johan W. Groothoff
Klaas Postema
Pieter U. Dijkstra
Corry K. van der Sluis
Publication date: 01-09-2009
Publisher: Springer US
Published in: Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation / Issue 3/2009
Print ISSN: 1053-0487
Electronic ISSN: 1573-3688
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10926-009-9181-4

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Determinants of Return to Work in Patients with Hand Disorders and Hand Injuries

Abstract

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Please log in to get access to this content

Other articles of this Issue 3/2009

Validation Study of a Distress Screener

Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders and Injuries: Differences Among Older and Younger Occupational and Physical Therapists

A New Non Exercise-based VO2max Prediction Equation for Patients with Chronic Low Back Pain

The Work Ability Divide: Holistic and Reductionistic Approaches in Swedish Interdisciplinary Rehabilitation Teams

General Practitioners and Patients with Psychological Stress at Work

Occupational Medicine Practice Guidelines, 2nd Edition: Evaluation and Management of Common Health Problems and Functional Recovery in Workers, 2008 Revision