Objective: To assess return to work outcomes of major trauma patients treated at a level 1 UK major trauma centre and evaluate factors associated with improved outcomes.
Design: Cross-sectional cohort design.
Subjects: In total, 99 patients at one, two or three years post-discharge from a Major Trauma Centre with an injury severity score above 9, in full-time work or education prior to injury, aged 18-70 and discharged between April 2012 and June 2015.
Main measures: Self-report questionnaire including the Trauma Outcome Profile, the Multiple Sclerosis Neuropsychological Screening questionnaire and questions pertaining to work and education.
Results: Of the 99 patients in full-time work pre-injury, 65 made a complete return to work, 15 made an incomplete return to work and 19 did not return to work, where incomplete return to work was defined as working below 80% of previous working hours. In all, 25 participants scored below the cut-off point on physical disabilities, 46 below the cut-off point on mental functioning and 38 below the cut-off point on social interaction. Reduced anxiety and higher mental functioning were consistently associated with complete return to work.
Conclusion: In all, 66% of patients with moderate to severe injuries made a complete return to work. A range of psycho-social, physical and functional health issues were persistent at long-term follow-up.
Keywords: Major trauma; health psychology; rehabilitation; return to work.