Injured worker participation in assessment during the acute phase of workers compensation rehabilitation: a scoping review.

Abstract

Rates of return to work (RTW) are declining in the Australian workers compensation system alongside significant economic and social costs, disputes, and secondary psychological injury. Non-medical assessment of workplace injuries now considers psychosocial and workplace factors, and worker participation in the assessment process is limited. This scoping review examines studies regarding non-medical assessment during the acute phase of rehabilitation in terms of costs, disputes, secondary psychological injury, and worker participation. An electronic and manual search of relevant articles across four databases was conducted using PRISMA guidelines, followed by quality assessment. Of the 1,630 studies retrieved, 12 met the inclusion criteria with most focused on assessment for risk of obstructed or delayed RTW. Non-medical assessment in the acute stage of rehabilitation identifies risk for delayed or complicated RTW, overlooking potential for the process of assessment to contribute to disputes and development of secondary psychological injury. Doubt around the capacity of workers to participate objectively in assessment persists. These are aspects of assessment worthy of further exploration for their impact on RTW outcomes.