Activity Impairment, Work Status, and Work Productivity Loss in Adults 5–7 Years After Burn Injuries

Abstract An important aspect of the rehabilitation of burn patients is social participation, including daily activities and work. Detailed information on long-term activity impairment and employment is scarce. Therefore, we investigated activity impairment, work status, and work productivity loss in...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of burn care & research 2022-01, Vol.43 (1), p.256-262
Main Authors: Spronk, Inge, Van Loey, Nancy E E, van der Vlies, Cornelis H, Haagsma, Juanita A, Polinder, Suzanne, van Baar, Margriet E
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Activities of Daily Living
Adult
Body Surface Area
Burns - physiopathology
Cross-Sectional Studies
Efficiency
Employment
Female
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Netherlands
Original
Quality of Life
Recovery of Function
Surveys and Questionnaires
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Abstract An important aspect of the rehabilitation of burn patients is social participation, including daily activities and work. Detailed information on long-term activity impairment and employment is scarce. Therefore, we investigated activity impairment, work status, and work productivity loss in adults 5–7 years following burn injuries, and investigated associations with burn-specific health-related quality of life (HRQL) domains. Adult participants completed the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment General Health questionnaire and the Burn Specific Health Scale-brief (BSHS-B) 5–7 years post-burn. Outcomes were compared between participants with mild/intermediate and severe burns (>20% total body surface area burned). Seventy-six (36%) of the 213 participants experienced some degree of activity impairment due to burn-related problems 5–7 years post-burn. Seventy percent of the population was employed; 12% of them experienced work productivity loss due to burn-related problems. Nineteen percent reported changes in their work situation (partly) because of the burn injury. A higher proportion of participants with severe burns had activity impairments (56% vs 29%; P = .001) and work productivity loss (26% vs 8%; P < .001) compared to participants with mild/intermediate burns. Activity impairment and work productivity loss were both associated with burn-related work problems and lower mood, measured with the BSHS-B. In conclusion, a substantial part of the study population experienced activity impairment and work productivity loss, was unemployed, and/or reported changes in their work situation due to their injury. Particularly patients with severe burns reported productivity loss and had lower employment rates. This subscribes the importance of addressing work-related functioning in the rehabilitation of burn patients.
ISSN:1559-047X
1559-0488
DOI:10.1093/jbcr/irab047