Worker satisfaction with a workplace injury prevention and return-to-work program in a large Canadian hospital: The importance of an integrated approach

Abstract

Background: Workplace injuries cause considerable morbidity, requiring intervention programs with strong stakeholder support and effective interdisciplinary practitioner involvement. Such a program, called Prevention and Early Active Return-to-Work Safely (PEARS), decreased time loss and costs in a large Canadian hospital. However, it only attracted 39% of workers who reported injuries. This triggered a study of utilization and satisfaction with PEARS to determine areas to further enhance the program.

Methods: The hospital's occupational health department records identified 758 workers who reported a musculoskeletal injury (MSI) during the first year of PEARS, along with demographic and injury details. All were telephoned regardless of participation in the PEARS program.

Results: Of the 335 survey respondents, 136 had used PEARS. The most common reason justifying non-participation was perception of the injury as minor (45%). PEARS participants accessed significantly more resources than non-participants – including accessing physiotherapy (82.8% of participants versus 33.3% of non-participants) and physicians (74.8% versus 64.3%), and workplace assessments (37.9% versus 11.4%). Workplace assessment was the only component of the program that was perceived to be significantly more successful by PEARS participants (64.9%) versus non-participants (35.3%) (p=0.002).

Conclusion: The fact that the only significant difference in satisfaction of services between those who accessed PEARS versus those who did not related to the workplace assessments underscores the value of proving workplace assessments in the context of an integrated approach to primary and secondary prevention, in which there is a direct link to knowledgeable medical and rehabilitation professionals who provide clinical advice that dovetails with the reality of the workplace setting. A program that emphasizes workplace assessment as an important complement to medical advice and physiotherapy is, therefore, advisable to decrease work disability.