TitleExploring "Return to Productivity" Among People Living With Burn Injury: A Burn Model System National Database Report.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2021
AuthorsSheckter CC, Brych S, Carrougher GJ, Wolf SE, Schneider JC, Gibran N, Stewart BT
JournalJ Burn Care Res
Volume42
Issue6
Pagination1081-1086
Date Published2021 Nov 24
ISSN1559-0488
Abstract

Burn survivors experience barriers to returning to work. For those who do return to work, little is known regarding whether they achieve preinjury productivity (i.e., equivalent or gain in income compared to preinjury income). Identifying patients at risk of not achieving preinjury productivity is important for targeting services that support this population. They extracted occupational and income data through 24 months postinjury from the multicenter, longitudinal Burn Model System National Database. Annual income was reported in six groups: <$25k, $25k-50k, $50k-99k, $100k-149k, $150k-199k, and $>199k. Participants were classified by change in income at each follow-up (i.e., gain, loss, and equivalent). Explanatory variables included demographics, injury characteristics, insurance payer, employment status, and job type. Multilevel, multivariable logistic regression was used to model return to productivity. Four hundred fifty-three participants provided complete income data at discharge and follow-up. Of the 302 participants employed preinjury, 180 (60%) returned to work within 24 months postinjury. Less than half (138) returned to productivity (46% of participants employed preinjury; 77% of those who returned to work). Characteristics associated with return to productivity included older age (median 46.9 vs 45.9 years, OR 1.03, P = .006), Hispanic ethnicity (24% vs 11%, OR 1.80, P = 0.041), burn size >20% TBSA (33.7% vs 33.0%, OR 2.09, P = 0.045), and postinjury employment (54% vs 26%, OR 3.41, P < 0.001). More than half of employed people living with burn injury experienced loss in productivity within 24 months postinjury. Even if they return to work, people living with burn injuries face challenges returning to productivity and may benefit from vocational rehabilitation and/or financial assistance.

DOI10.1093/jbcr/irab139
Alternate JournalJ Burn Care Res
PubMed ID34302467
Grant List90DPBU001 / / National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research /
/ / Center within the Administration for Community Living /
/ / U.S. Department of Health and Human Services /
/ / ACL /
/ / Federal Government /