Citation

van Erp S, Holtslag HR, van Beeck EF. Injury 2014; 45(3): 629-634.

Affiliation

Department of Rehabilitation, Nursing Science and Sport, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2014, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.injury.2013.10.019

PMID

24219901

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To identify determinants of limitations in unpaid work (household work, shopping, caring for children and odd jobs around the house) in patients who had suffered major trauma (ISS≥16) and who were in full-time employment (≥80%) at the time of injury. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: University Medical Centre Utrecht, a level 1 trauma centre in the Netherlands. METHOD: All severely injured (ISS≥16) adult (age≥16) trauma survivors admitted from January 1999 to December 2000 who were full-time employed at time of the injury were invited for follow-up (n=214). Outcome was assessed with the 'Health and Labour Questionnaire' (HLQ) at a mean of 15 months (SD=1.5) after injury. The HLQ was completed by 211 patients. RESULTS: Response rate was 93%. Logistic regression analyses identified the percentage of permanent impairment (% PI), level of participation (RtW), co-morbidity, lower extremity injury (LEI) and female gender as determinants of limitations in unpaid work. Patients with a post-injury status of part-time or no return to work experienced more limitations in unpaid work than those who returned to full-time employment. CONCLUSIONS: Resuming paid work after major trauma is not associated with reductions in unpaid activities. To assess the long-term outcome of rehabilitation programmes, we recommend a measure that combines patient's satisfaction in their post-injury jobs with a satisfactory level of activities in their private lives.

Language: en