Prediction of chronic disability in work-related musculoskeletal disorders: a prospective, population-based study

Table 1 Key risk factors in five domains: predicted direction of relationship to one-year disability and source of information

		Source of information
Risk factor	Predicted direction of relationship to disability	Worker interview	Medical records	Administrative database
Sociodemographic
Age	+			X
Socioeconomic status	-	X
Biomedical/health care
Injury severity	+		X
Co-morbidity, poor health before injury	+	X
Radiating leg pain (back injury cases)	+	X
Delay to care	+			X
Pain intensity and sites	+	X
Physical disability	+	X
Opiate, sedative use	+			X
Sick leave in prior year	+	X
Treatment aimed at reactivation, return to work	-	X
Communication between doctor and employer	-	X
Work
Firm Size	-			X
Job loss	+	X
Job modifications	-	X
Physical demands	+	X
Job satisfaction	-	X
Confidence regarding return to work	-	X
Administrative/legal
Time from claim receipt to allowance	+			X
Employer protest	+			X
Attorney	+	X
Psychosocial
Mental health	-	X
Alcohol abuse	+	X
Fear-avoidance	+	X
Catastrophizing	+	X

ISSN: 1471-2474