Projects per year
Abstract
Purpose This study investigated the association between return to work self-efficacy (RTW-SE) and sustained return to work (RTW) at two different time points, over a 12-month period. The primary objective of the study was to examine if the relationship between RTW-SE and a sustained RTW changed over the RTW timeline. Methods This study used survey responses from a longitudinal cohort of n = 410 workers’ compensation claimants with either an upper-body musculoskeletal injury or a psychological injury. A path analysis tested the associations between RTW-SE and a sustained RTW at two time-points. A Wald χ2 test compared nested models to determine if the association changed over time. Results RTW-SE measured at time- point 1 (T1) was associated with a sustained RTW at time-point two (T2) (β = 0.24, P < 0.05) but no association was found between RTW-SE at T2 and a sustained RTW at time-point three (T3) (β = 0.017, n.s.). Model comparisons revealed significant differences in the associations between RTW-SE and a sustained RTW, with the relationship being stronger in the early phase of RTW compared to the latter phase (χ2 = 5.002, p = 0.03). Conclusions The results indicate that RTW-SE at 4–6 months post-injury is important for a sustained RTW 6-months later although RTW-SE at 10–12 months post-injury had a negligible association over the same duration. Further research should investigate whether these findings generalize to other populations and what factors other than RTW-SE are associated with RTW in the later stages of the RTW process.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 660-667 |
Number of pages | 8 |
Journal | Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation |
Volume | 29 |
Issue number | 3 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Sep 2019 |
Keywords
- Occupational injuries
- Return to work
- Self efficacy
- Workers’ compensation
Projects
- 2 Finished
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Understanding individual, workplace and system level influences on return to work in a changing Australian labour market
Sim, M., LaMontagne, A. D., Smith, P., Browne, T., Fitzpatrick, T., Hill, J. D., Hogg-Johnson, S., Lilley, R., McConnell-Lynch, H. & Ryan, S.
Australian Research Council (ARC), University of Melbourne, Victorian WorkCover Authority (VWA) (trading as WorkSafe Victoria), Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC), Safe Work Australia (SWA), Beyond Blue , Australian Industry Group (Ai GROUP), University of Toronto, University of Otago
1/07/13 → 31/10/17
Project: Research
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The impact of the ageing workforce on work injury and compensation systems in Australia
Australian Research Council (ARC)
3/01/12 → 31/12/14
Project: Research