O-36 Return to work after an episode of absence due to musculoskeletal disorder or injury

• Published in: Occupational and environmental medicine (London, England) England), 2023-03, Vol.80 (Suppl 1), p.A77-A77
• Main Authors: Silva-Junior, João Silvestre, Martinez, Maria Carmen, Sekiya, Felipe Seiti, Miranda, Cristiano Barreto de, Fischer, Frida Marina
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Abstracts; Health risks; Health services; Illnesses; Longitudinal studies; Musculoskeletal diseases; Risk factors; Risk taking; Social security; Statistical analysis
• ISSN: 1351-0711; 1470-7926
• DOI: 10.1136/OEM-2023-EPICOH.189

IntroductionMusculoskeletal Disorders and Injuries (MSDI) are conditions that affect the locomotor system and are typically characterized by pain and impairment, representing the main cause of years lived with disability. MSDI are the leading cause for grant sickness social security benefit in Brazil. This study aims to analyze factors that influence return to work (RTW) among workers on sickness absence due to MSDI.Material and MethodsA longitudinal study was conducted in São Paulo city, Brazil, from 2022–2021. Participants included 216 workers requiring social security compensation due to MSDI. At baseline, participants filled questionnaires about sociodemographic, health risk behaviours, work characteristics and health conditions. They were followed for 365 days after the first day of sickness absence. A Cox regression was performed to identify factors influencing the first RTW. Results &ConclusionsMost participants were males (53.0%), married (50.7%), school education higher than 11 years (60.4%), mean age 39.5 years (sd + 10.6), BMI 27,9 kg/m2 (sd + 4.9), did not smoke (85,2%), abstemious (52,5%), working less than 05 years (59.4%), morning shifts (73.2%), and underwent physiotherapy (53.9%). RTW occurred for 70.4% participants over 1-year follow up. Mean duration of absence was 192.6 days. The risk factors to remaining absent for a period longer than one year were: 40 years old and older (hazard ratio – HR 0.54; 95% confidence interval – CI 0.39–0.76) and the interaction between the perception of need for improvement in the physical and psychological domains (HR 0.67; 95%CI 0.48–0.94). These findings can contribute to discussion about disability prevention and interventions to assure health care. Companies’ health service professionals should start the process of return to work at the first day of absence, in order to reduce the time of reintegration and to promote a sustainable return.AcknowledgmentsCNPq Grants 423231/2018–9, 304375/2017–9, 306963/2021–3.