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Early retirement due to occupational injury: Who is at risk?
Author(s) -
Pransky Glenn S.,
Benjamin Katy L.,
Savageau Judith A.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
american journal of industrial medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.7
H-Index - 104
eISSN - 1097-0274
pISSN - 0271-3586
DOI - 10.1002/ajim.20149
Subject(s) - medicine , workforce , occupational injury , occupational safety and health , aging in the american workforce , injury prevention , intervention (counseling) , occupational medicine , gerontology , health care , population , poison control , multivariate analysis , environmental health , nursing , pathology , economics , economic growth
Abstract Background As the workforce is rapidly ageing, research on the consequences of occupational injuries in older workers is becoming more important. One adverse outcome unique to older workers, early retirement, has significant negative social and economic consequences for workers and employers. Although linked to poor worker health, the roles of workplace factors and occupational injury have not been well‐defined. Method Changes in retirement plans attributed to an occupational injury were studied in a population‐based sample of 1,449 New Hampshire workers aged ≤55, using a mailed survey. Questions addressed pre‐and post‐injury health, job satisfaction, work capacity, nature and severity of injury, medical care, employer response, work status, pain, and financial problems. Result Eleven percent planned to retire earlier due to their work injury, and their outcomes were significantly worse. In a multivariate model, pre‐injury dissatisfaction with the job and with medical care, and poor physical and mental health status were related to intent to retire early. Conclusion These factors may represent opportunities for early identification and intervention with individuals at high risk for poor post‐injury outcomes. Longitudinal studies are needed to confirm the importance of these preliminary findings. Am. J. Ind. Med. 47:285–295 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.