TY - JOUR

T1 - Return to work in persons with persistent postconcussion symptoms

T2 - a survey study examining the perspectives of employees and managers

AU - Conradsen, Irene

AU - Bang-Hansen, Victoria Eva

AU - Sørensen, Alexander N.

AU - Rytter, Hana Malá

PY - 2024/6/3

Y1 - 2024/6/3

N2 - Objective: To examine challenges in return to work (RTW) for persons with persistent postconcussionsymptoms (PPCS) experienced by the affected employees and their managers.Methods: A survey of employees (S-E) and two surveys of managers (S-M1, S-M2) executed 4 monthsapart to capture the time perspective. Inclusion: Adults aged 18–66 with PPCS > 4 weeks, employed at thetime of mTBI who returned to work within the previous year. Managers involved in their RTW process.Outcome measures: Work status, working hours, work functioning (Work Role FunctioningQuestionnaire, WRFQ), work productivity.Results: Ninety-two employees and 66 managers were recruited. Three-fourths of the employees hadreturned to work but only one-third worked under similar conditions. Weekly working hours decreasedfrom 36,3 hours (SD = 10,5) before mTBI to 17,6 hours (SD = 9,7). Employees had difficulties with tasks43% of time (WRFQ). They needed more breaks, struggled with multitasking and work speed. About65.9% experienced affected work productivity. Managers reported lack of knowledge and difficultiesassessing the number of working hours and suitable tasks.Conclusions: Most employees returned to work but only a minority worked under similar conditions asbefore mTBI. Employees and managers struggled to estimate workload. The affected employees and theirworkplaces need a long-term RTW support.

AB - Objective: To examine challenges in return to work (RTW) for persons with persistent postconcussionsymptoms (PPCS) experienced by the affected employees and their managers.Methods: A survey of employees (S-E) and two surveys of managers (S-M1, S-M2) executed 4 monthsapart to capture the time perspective. Inclusion: Adults aged 18–66 with PPCS > 4 weeks, employed at thetime of mTBI who returned to work within the previous year. Managers involved in their RTW process.Outcome measures: Work status, working hours, work functioning (Work Role FunctioningQuestionnaire, WRFQ), work productivity.Results: Ninety-two employees and 66 managers were recruited. Three-fourths of the employees hadreturned to work but only one-third worked under similar conditions. Weekly working hours decreasedfrom 36,3 hours (SD = 10,5) before mTBI to 17,6 hours (SD = 9,7). Employees had difficulties with tasks43% of time (WRFQ). They needed more breaks, struggled with multitasking and work speed. About65.9% experienced affected work productivity. Managers reported lack of knowledge and difficultiesassessing the number of working hours and suitable tasks.Conclusions: Most employees returned to work but only a minority worked under similar conditions asbefore mTBI. Employees and managers struggled to estimate workload. The affected employees and theirworkplaces need a long-term RTW support.

KW - Faculty of Social Sciences

KW - hjernerystelse

KW - arbejde

KW - tilbagevenden i arbejde

U2 - 10.1080/02699052.2024.2361620

DO - 10.1080/02699052.2024.2361620

M3 - Journal article

JO - Brain Injury

JF - Brain Injury

SN - 0269-9052

ER -