Returning to work after dysvascular lower limb amputation-A novel multivariate approach to examine relative contributions of biopsychosocial predictors.
Szu-Ping Lee, Lung-Chang Chien, Hui-Ting Shih and 2 others
PMID 38180145WHAT IT FOUND
Physical function and socioeconomic support predicted return to work, but only 30% of participants returned.
Pre-amputation employment and self-reported mobility mattered more than lab walking tests. Access to rehab and financial difficulty were key contextual factors.
Key findings
01The physical functioning group was the most influential predictor of returning to work, followed by socioeconomic support.
02Pre-amputation employment status and self-reported mobility (PLUS-M) were the strongest individual factors within the physical functioning group.
03Only 30% of participants returned to work, and among those employed before amputation, 55% did not return.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
The study was cross-sectional, so it cannot prove that physical function or socioeconomic factors caused the return to work decision; working might have improved mobility. The sample size was small (57 participants), and the return-to-work variable was dichotomous (yes/no), ignoring part-time work or job type. Participants were recruited via convenience sampling from clinics and support groups, which may not represent the broader population. The study focused only on dysvascular amputations, so findings may not apply to traumatic amputations.
Declared interests
No conflicts of interest or funding sources were explicitly declared in the provided text.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret the odds ratios as proof that improving physical function will automatically lead to a return to work. The study is cross-sectional, meaning it only shows an association at one point in time, and the direction of causality is unknown.