Return to Work Following Major Trauma
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Return to Work Outcomes of patients treated at a UK Major Trauma Centre for Severe Injuries
IRAS ID
187665
Contact name
Kathryn Radford
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Nottingham
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 8 months, 30 days
Research summary
In the last 3 years services for treating patients with multiple serious injuries in the UK have been re-organised into networks centred on Major Trauma Centres providing specialised care. Whilst centralising treatment in this way decreases mortality rates, survivors of such severe injuries are still at risk of physical and mental disabilities, reduced quality of life and low return to work rates.
Returning to work after treatment for such injuries is related to increased psychological health and improved quality of life, whilst lack of paid work is related to mental deterioration and depression. However, there has been little research assessing the rehabilitation needs of patients aiming to return to work in the UK since the centralisation of treatment. Research from other countries has identified factors that are related to increased likelihood of returning to work, but results are mixed with little research assessing the impact of psychological health on patients’ ability to return to work.
We propose a study to assess return to work rates among major trauma patients following treatment at a UK Major Trauma Centre. Factors previously found to be related to return to work rates and aspects of psychological health will be assessed in terms of their ability to predict whether patients return to work. This research is needed to assess the rehabilitation needs of these patients, to identify patients at risk of worse outcomes and develop tailored treatments.
These factors will be assessed in patients treated at the East Midlands Major Trauma Centre in Nottingham, comparing outcomes of three groups of patients at 1, 2, and 3 years post discharge from treatment. We will develop a questionnaire to assess return to work outcomes and related factors, which will be sent to potential participants to complete. The study will be carried out over 9 months.
REC name
East Midlands - Nottingham 1 Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/EM/0003
Date of REC Opinion
16 Feb 2016
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion