Predictors of return to work and duration of absence following work-related hand injury

The aims of the study were to explore the situation and the potential determinants of return-to-work (RTW) and the absence duration following work-related hand injury, and to provide evidence for the future intervention strategy of improving RTW. A prospective cohort of workers with work-related hand injury from three selected hospitals in East China was followed up on the outcomes of RTW up to 8 months after discharge. Demographic and clinical data were collected during admission; economic factors, psychological factors and RTW outcomes were, respectively, investigated using a structured questionnaire via phone call after discharge from the hospitals in 0.5 month, 2 months, 4 months and 8 months. Univariate analysis and Cox regression model were used to examine the associations between potential determinants and outcomes of the RTW. Out of the 246 cases, 192 (78.1%) eventually returned to work with the median duration of the absence of 44.0days during the 8-month follow-up. Factors from demographic, clinical, economic and psychological domains affected RTW in the univariate analyses. Receiving timely treatment at outpatient clinics, less serious injury, no tendon trauma and no skin loss were found to be significantly beneficial to RTW, while workers with the decreased monthly salary during absence and lower pre-injury salary were likely to take longer sick leave. Most of the workers successfully achieved RTW after work-related hand injury. Proper clinical treatment and rehabilitation, as well as economic and social support seem to have played vital roles in prompting RTW that should be prioritised for the intervention strategy.