Mental health and other factors associated with work productivity after injury in the UK: multicentre cohort study

Kellezi, Blerina; Dhiman, Paula; Coupland, Carol; Whitehead, J.; Morriss, Richard; Joseph, S.; Beckett, K.; Sleney, J.; Barnes, J.; Kendrick, Denise

Abstract

Introduction: Mental health conditions are a major contributor to productivity loss and are common post-injury. This study quantifies post-injury productivity loss and its association with pre and post-injury mental health, injury, demographic, health, social and other factors.

Methods: Multi-centre, longitudinal study recruiting hospitalised 16-69-year-old employed individuals with unintentional injuries, followed-up at 1,2,4 and 12 months. Participants completed questionnaires on injury, demographic factors, health (including mental health), social factors, other factors and on-the-job productivity upon return to work (RTW). Odds ratios were estimated for above median productivity loss, using random effects logistic regression.

Results: 217 adults had made a RTW at 2,4 or 12-months post-injury: 29% at 2-months, 66% at 4-months, and 83% at 12-months. Productivity loss reduced over time: 3.3% of working time at 2-months, 1.7% at 4-months, 1% at 12-months. Significantly higher productivity loss was associated with pre-injury psychiatric conditions (OR 21.40, 95% CI: 3.50, 130.78) and posttraumatic stress avoidance symptoms at 1-month (OR for one-unit increase in score 1.15, 95%CI 1.07, 1.22). Significantly lower productivity loss was associated with male gender (OR 0.32, 95%CI 0.14, 0.74), upper and lower limb injuries (vs other body regions, OR 0.15, 95% CI: 0.03, 0.81), and sports injuries (vs. home, OR 0.18, 95% CI: 0.04, 0.78). Pre-injury psychiatric conditions and gender remained significant in analysis of multiply imputed data.

Conclusions: Unintentional injury results in substantial productivity loss. Those with pre-injury psychiatric conditions, females and posttraumatic stress avoidance symptoms experience greater productivity loss and may require additional support to successfully RTW.

Citation

Kellezi, B., Dhiman, P., Coupland, C., Whitehead, J., Morriss, R., Joseph, S., …Kendrick, D. (2022). Mental health and other factors associated with work productivity after injury in the UK: multicentre cohort study. Injury Prevention, 28(2), 131-140. https://doi.org/10.1136/injuryprev-2021-044311

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jul 31, 2021
• Online Publication Date: Aug 30, 2021
• Publication Date: 2022-04
• Deposit Date: Aug 17, 2021
• Publicly Available Date: Aug 30, 2021
• Journal: Injury Prevention
• Print ISSN: 1353-8047
• Electronic ISSN: 1475-5785
• Publisher: BMJ Publishing Group
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 28
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 131-140
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/injuryprev-2021-044311
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/6055424
• Publisher URL: https://injuryprevention.bmj.com/content/28/2/131