Affiliations: [a] Monash Injury Research Institute, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
| [b] School of Social Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
| [c] School of Health Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| [d] Institute for Safety Compensation and Recovery Research, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| [e]
Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
Correspondence:
[*]
Address for correspondence: Amy R. Allen, Monash Injury Research Institute, Building 70, Monash University,
Melbourne, VIC 3800, Australia. Tel.: +61 3 9905 9322; E-mail: amy.allen@monash.edu.
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Compensable injury is a public health concern and understanding of the factors influencing recovery is crucial to improving physical and psychological outcomes for injured individuals. OBJECTIVE: Based on the bio-psychosocial model of disability (Engel, 1980), the aim of this study is to explore the experiences of injured people in compensation systems, focusing on factors that impact their health and mental well-being. METHOD: Telephone interviews were conducted with 15 compensated injured individuals who had time off work, to explore their experiences post injury. RESULTS: The key outcomes experienced post injury included fear, physical disuse, depression and disability. The results are discussed within the fear-avoidance model of pain (Lethem, Slade, Troupe, & Bentley, 1983) and in relation to a readjustment of sense of self. CONCLUSIONS: The majority of participants were struggling to move beyond their injury and particular road blocks were impeding progression of their recovery. The results of this study offer recommendations for the way compensation systems interact with injured persons and psychological and/or social interventions to help recovery from injury and return to work.
Keywords: Compensable injury, pain, sense of self, fear-avoidance model
