TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2014//
TI  - The health status of people claiming compensation for musculoskeletal injuries following road traffic crashes is not altered by an early intervention programme: a comparative study
JO  - Injury
A1  - Littleton, S. M.
A1  - Hughes, D. C.
A1  - Gopinath, B.
A1  - Robinson, B. J.
A1  - Poustie, S. J.
A1  - Smith, P. N.
A1  - Cameron, I. D.
SP  - 1493
EP  - 1499
VL  - 45
IS  - 9
N2  - OBJECTIVE: To compare health outcomes among claimants compared to those who were ineligible or choose not to lodge a compensation claim. We also evaluated the effect of an early intervention programme on the health outcomes of the participants. <br><br>DESIGN: Prospective comparative study using sequential cohorts. SUBJECTS: People presenting to hospital emergency departments with mild to moderate musculoskeletal injuries following road traffic crashes. INTERVENTION: referral to an early intervention programme for assessment by musculoskeletal physician, pain management education, promotion of self-management and encouragement of early activity. MAIN OUTCOMES: The 36-Item Short-Form Survey (SF-36); Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and Functional Rating Index (FRI) scores were assessed at post-crash and at 12 months. <br><br>RESULTS: At 12 months, mean scores in six and five of the SF-36 domains were significantly lower among participants who claimed compensation versus those who chose not to claim or were ineligible, respectively. Differences in mean SF-36 scores ranged from 3.0 ('general health perception') to 8.0 units ('role limitations due to physical problems'). Participants who claimed compensation had 6.3- and 4.6-units lower SF-36 physical component score compared to those who were ineligible (p=0.001) or chose not to claim (p=0.01), respectively. Participants who claimed compensation reported a worse HADS-depression score of 6.46 versus 4.97 and 4.69 observed in those who were ineligible (p=0.04) or did not claim (p=0.01). Claimants had worse FRI scores compared to non-claimants (p=0.01) and those who were ineligible (p=0.01). The early intervention did not improve health outcomes, 12 months after injury. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: Claiming compensation was associated with a worse health status for people with soft tissue injuries caused by road traffic crashes. The health status in people claiming compensation was not altered by an early intervention programme.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 0020-1383
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.injury.2014.05.011
ID  - ref1
ER  -