Determinants of duration of disability and return-to-work after work-related injury and illness: Challenges for future research

Background The purpose of this review was to identify critical data and res earch needs in addressing the following question: What are the primary fact ors that affect the time lost from work, return-to-work (RTW), subsequent u nemployment, and changes in occupation after disabling illness or injury? Methods Review of the literature to identify research challenges originatin g from the multitude of disciplines, data sources, outcome measures, and me thodological and analytical problems. Results About 100 different determinants of RTW outcomes were identified. T heir impact varies across different phases of the disablement process. Reco mmendations are provided for addressing five selected research challenges. Conclusions Interdisciplinary research needs to develop a comprehensive con ceptual framework. Priority should be given to studies on specific domains of risk factors meeting five selection criteria: amenability to change; rel evance to users of research; generalizability across health conditions, dis ability phases, and settings; "degree of promise" as derived from qualitati ve exploratory, studies; and capacity to improve measurement instruments. C ombining qualitative and quantitative research methods is necessary to brid ge existing knowledge gaps. (C) 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.