Assessment of the factors affecting the loss of workforce in patients with traumatic hand injury

Authors : Kardelen GENCER ATALAY, Merve DEMIRCI, Ozgur BAYSAL, Canan SANAL TOPRAK

Pages : 303-307

Doi:10.5472/marumj.1186710

View : 14 | Download : 7

Publication Date : 2022-10-31

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :Objective: This study aimed to examine the factors affecting the loss of workforce, including the time to return to work and workrelated situations in patients with traumatic hand injury who were taken to a hand rehabilitation program. Materials and Methods: The patients aged between 18-65 years with a history of traumatic hand injury in the last five years were analyzed retrospectively. Demographic and clinic data were taken from the medical records, and work-related problems were obtained by telephone calls. The severity of hand injury was assessed with Modified Hand Injury Severity Score insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(MHISS);. Results: A total of 147 patients insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(129 males, 18 females; mean age 39.83±10.4 years); were included. The duration of return to work was correlated with total MHISS insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(rho=0.262 p=0.003); while not related to age, education level, gender, or injured hand’s dominance insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(p>0.05);. Duration of return to work after hand injury and total MHISS were lower in the patients who had job modifications insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(p<0.001, p=0.002);. Job modification rate, salary reduction, and patient-reported hand dexterity loss were higher in patients with work-related injuries insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(p<0.05);. Conclusion: This study highlighted that the increasing severity of hand injury caused a prolonged time to return to work, or job scope changes.
Keywords : Hand injury, Modified Hand Injury Severity Score, Return to work, workplace engagement