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Barriers and Facilitators Associated with Return to Work Following Minor to Serious Road Traffic Musculoskeletal Injuries: A Systematic Review

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Abstract

Purpose To identify factors impeding or facilitating Return to Work (RTW) after minor to serious musculoskeletal Road Traffic Injuries (RTI). Methods Six electronic databases were searched for studies published 1997–2020. Quantitative and qualitative studies were included if they investigated barriers or facilitators associated with RTW in people with minor to serious musculoskeletal RTI aged over 16 years. Methodological quality was assessed using McMaster Critical Review Form for Quantitative studies and McMaster Critical Review Form for Qualitative Studies. Results are presented narratively as meta-analysis was not possible. Results Eleven studies (10 quantitative and 1 qualitative) were included. There was strong evidence that individuals with higher overall scores on the (short-form or long-form) Örebro Musculoskeletal Pain Questionnaire (ÖMPQ) at baseline were less likely to RTW, and individuals with higher RTW expectancies at baseline were more likely to RTW after musculoskeletal RTI. There was weak evidence for higher disability levels and psychiatric history impeding RTW after musculoskeletal RTI. Conclusions Post-injury scores on the ÖMPQ and RTW expectancies are the most influential factors for RTW after minor to serious musculoskeletal RTI. There is a need to identify consistent measures of RTW to facilitate comparisons between studies.

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Funding

MA is supported by The University of Queensland Research Training Scholarship.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia

    Masoumeh Abedi, Elise Gane, Tammy Aplin, Haroun Zerguine & Venerina Johnston

  2. Physiotherapy Department, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane, QLD, Australia

    Elise Gane

  3. Centre for Functioning and Health Research, Metro South Health, Brisbane, QLD, Australia

    Elise Gane

  4. Allied Health Research Collaborative, The Prince Charles Hospital, Brisbane, QLD, Australia

    Tammy Aplin

  5. RECOVER Injury Research Centre, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia

    Venerina Johnston

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MA, HZ, and VJ contributed in screening, quality appraisal and data extraction. MA, VJ, EG, and TA contributed in developing the idea, analysis, and writing up the draft.

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Correspondence to Masoumeh Abedi.

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Abedi, M., Gane, E., Aplin, T. et al. Barriers and Facilitators Associated with Return to Work Following Minor to Serious Road Traffic Musculoskeletal Injuries: A Systematic Review. J Occup Rehabil 32, 13–26 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10926-021-09994-3

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