Affiliations: Department of Health Sciences, Lund University,
Division of Occupational Therapy and Gerontology, Sweden | Hand Surgery, Department of Clinical Sciences,
Skåne University Hospital, Lund University, Sweden
Note: [] Address for correspondence: Ragnhild Cederlund, Division of
Occupational Therapy and Gerontology, Department of Health Sciences, Lund
University, Box 157, SE-221 00 Lund, Sweden. Tel.: +46 46 2221955; Fax: +46 46
2221959; E-mail: ragnhild.cederlund@med.lu.se
Abstract: OBJECTIVES: This paper explores factors important for return to work
(RTW) in people who have sustained a serious hand injury. PARTICIPANTS: Forty people aged 19–64, with a severe or major
hand injury were recruited consecutively during 2005–2007. METHODS: A self-administered and study specific questionnaire,
including demographic data and standardised questionnaires for function,
disability, daily occupations, health, quality of life, sense of coherence and
several open questions was sent out by mail twelve months after injury. Open
questions regarding RTW were also included. RESULTS: The results showed that 27 people had returned to work
within twelve months and 13 had not. Factors related to RTW and general work
motivations were divided into individual factors, and factors related to the
work environment and rehabilitation. The most prominent differences between the
groups were individual factors, such as higher perceived disability, reduced
hand function, and dissatisfaction with daily occupations resulting in a lower
physical quality of life. The no RTW group had also more ward days (inpatient
care) and lower sense of coherence. CONCLUSIONS: These findings support the idea that the RTW process
can be more dependent on the person's own ability and motivation than on the
severity of the hand injury. Suggestions for intervention and further studies
are presented in the discussion.
Keywords: Motivation, daily occupations, disability, sense of coherence
