Psychosocial Factors Impacting Workplace Injury Rehabilitation: Evaluation of a Concise Screening Tool

Purpose To determine whether the delayed recovery often observed in simple musculoskeletal injuries occurring at work is related to poor workplace and home social support. Method A four question psychosocial screening tool called the "How are you coping gauge?" (HCG) was developed. This tool was implemented as part of the initial assessment for all new musculoskeletal workplace injuries. Participants were excluded if they did not meet the strict criteria used to classify a musculoskeletal injury as simple. The HCG score was then compared to the participant's number of days until return to full capacity (DTFC). It was hypothesised that those workers indicating a poorer level of workplace and home support would take longer time to return to full capacity. Results A sample of 254 participants (316 excluded) were included in analysis. Significant correlation (p < 0.001) was observed between HCG scores for self-reported work and home support and DTFC thereby confirming the hypothesis. Path analysis found workplace support to be a significant moderate-to-strong predictor of DTFC (-0.46). Conclusion A correlation was observed between delayed workplace injury recovery and poor perceived workplace social support. The HCG may be an effective tool for identifying these factors in musculoskeletal workplace injuries of a minor pathophysiological nature. There may be merit in tailoring injury rehabilitation towards addressing psychosocial factors early in the injury recovery process to assist with a more expedient return to full work capacity following simple acute musculoskeletal injury.