A randomized controlled trial of a Return-to-Work Coordinator model of care in a general hospital to facilitate return to work of injured workers

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Tan, Heidi Siew Khoon^{a; *} | Yeo, Doreen Sai Ching^b | Giam, Joanna Yu Ting^a | Cheong, Florence Wai Fong^a | Chan, Kay Fei^b

Affiliations: [a] Department of Occupational Therapy, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore | [b] Tan Tock Seng Rehabilitation Centre, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore

Correspondence: [*] Address for correspondence: Heidi, Siew Khoon, Tan, Department of Occupational Therapy, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore. Tel.: +65 6357 8339; Fax: +65 6357 2542; E-mail: [email protected].

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Return-to-work (RTW) programmes for injured workers have been prevalent in Western countries with established work injury management policies for decades. In recent years, more Asian countries have started to develop RTW programmes in the absence of work injury management policies. However, few studies have evaluated the effectiveness of RTW programmes in Asia. OBJECTIVE: Return-to-work coordination has been found to be an important facilitator in RTW programmes. This study seeks to determine the effectiveness of a Return-to-work coordinator (RTWC) model of care in facilitating early RTW for injured workers in Singapore. METHODS: A randomized controlled trial was used. 160 injured workers in a general hospital were randomly allocated to either control (receive usual hospital standard care) or intervention (assigned a RTWC) group. The RTWC closely supported RTW arrangements and proactively liaised with employers and healthcare professionals on RTW solutions for the injured workers. RESULTS: At three months post injury, workers in the intervention group RTW 10 days earlier than the control group, with a higher proportion of workers in the intervention group returning to modified jobs. There were no significant differences in the quality of life measures between the two groups. CONCLUSION: The addition of a RTWC into the hospital model of care is effective in facilitating early RTW for injured workers. This could be a potential model of care for injured workers in Asian countries where work injury management policies are not yet established.

Keywords: Return to work, occupational rehabilitation, occupational therapy, worker’s compensation

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-162288

Journal: Work, vol. 54, no. 1, pp. 209-222, 2016