A historical cohort of Finnish workers with a severe occupational injury during 2008 (n=11585) were followed up annually on the outcomes of RTW over a 5-year observation period in order to (1) examine the probabilities of return to work, full disability and rehabilitation after a severe occupational injury, (2) investigate the permanence of these life situations and transitions between them and (3) study the connection between these life situations and working at a later stage in life. This webinar will illustrate the results of this study.
Take-home messages:
- The vast majority of workers will return to work after a severe occupational injury
- The current life situation (working, rehabilitation, full disability) is a strong predictor of later working after a serious occupational injury.
- The probability of return to work decreases significantly with time, thus rehabilitation and return to work programs should start as soon as possible.
- The probability of recovery after a severe occupational injury is relatively high even for those with long-term disabilities, so the promotion of return to work is highly recommended also for this target group.
Learning Outcomes
What is the expected life trajectory after a severe occupational injury
How permanent the different life situations are
What are the determinants of RTW
What are the connections between different life situations and working at a later stage in life