Timing of Health Service Use Among Truck Drivers After a Work-Related Injury or Illness

Ting Xia,Ross Iles,Alex Collie,Sharon Newnam,Dan I. Lubman

doi:10.1007/s10926-021-10001-y

Ting Xia, Ross Iles + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1007/s10926-021-10001-y

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Abstract

Purposes Timely delivery of treatment and rehabilitation is generally acknowledged to support injury recovery. This study aimed to describe the timing of health service use by injured truck drivers with work-related injury and to explore the association between demographic and injury factors and the duration of health service use. Methods Retrospective cohort study of injured truck drivers with accepted workers’ compensation claims in the state of Victoria, Australia. Descriptive analyses examined the percentage of injured truck drivers using health services by service type. Logistic regression model examined predictors of any service use versus no service use, and predictors of extended service use (≥ 52 weeks) versus short-term use. Results The timing of health service use by injured truck drivers with accepted workers’ compensation claims varies substantially by service type. General practitioner, specialist physician, and physical therapy service use peaks within the 14 weeks after compensation claim lodgement, whilst the majority of mental health services were accessed in the persistent phase beyond 14 weeks after claim lodgement. Older age, being employed by small companies, and claiming compensation for mental health conditions were associated with greater duration of health service use. Conclusions Injured truck drivers access a wide range of health services during the recovery and return to work process. Delivery of mental health services is delayed, including for those making mental health compensation claims. Health service planning should take into account worker and employer characteristics in addition to injury type.

Highlights

Across many jurisdictions globally, funding healthcare is one of the main mechanisms by which workers’ compensation schemes assist injured workers in their recovery
We examined seven categories of service use, primarily grouped by provider type based on Australian Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) categories: general practitioner (GP), specialist physician, mental health, surgery, return to work (RTW) services, physical therapy and independent medical examination (IME)
Types of work-related injury and illness were categorized using a modified version of the type of occurrence classification system (TOOCS) version 3[25] and we focused on six major categories of injury types, including fractures, musculoskeletal injury (MSK), neurological injury, mental health injury, other traumatic injury, and other diseases

Summary

Introduction

Across many jurisdictions globally, funding healthcare is one of the main mechanisms by which workers’ compensation schemes assist injured workers in their recovery. As part of the workers’ compensation process, healthcare workers provide a vital role in examining injured worker’s. Prior research suggests that the administrative complexity of workers’ compensation systems [2] and lack of understanding of insurance processes among healthcare providers can impact the efficiency of healthcare provision, and this can in turn contribute to poorer care [3]. One challenge impeding successful outcomes is the delivery of timely healthcare. There is much research to suggest that timely healthcare delivery supports injury recovery, and contributes to improving workability [4]. Delays in providing psychological treatment to workers with mental health conditions have been linked to poorer outcomes including social and cognitive decline

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