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Scoping review of claimants’ experiences within Australian workers’ compensation systems

journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-19, 19:50 authored by Dean, A-M, Mandy MatthewsonMandy Matthewson, Buultjens, M, Murphy, G

Objective: The aim of this scoping review was to map the literature on the lived experiences of injured workers in Australia in order to better understand the factors that inhibit the transition back to work and improved health. The ultimate aim of the study was to identify areas for further research into workers’ compensation systems and practices that are associated with improved occupational rehabilitation outcomes.

Methods: PubMed, ProQuest, Embase and Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) were searched for eligible articles published in English in peer-reviewed journals from 2001 to 2017. Narrative data synthesis was used to analyse the data collected from included articles.

Results: Twelve articles examining injured workers’ experiences within Australian workers’ compensation systems were identified. Injured workers reported similar experiences across states and territories in Australia. Four common themes and three subthemes were noted, namely: (1) relationships and interactions; (2) injured workers’ perceptions (subthemes: mental health effects, social effects and financial effects); (3) the workers’ compensation process; and (4) independent medical evaluations.

Conclusions: There are common difficulties that injured workers experience within Australian workers’ compensation systems that are reported to impede rehabilitation and return to work. A less harmful, more cooperative approach to worker rehabilitation and compensation is needed.

History

Publication title

Australian Health Review

Pagination

1-9

ISSN

0156-5788

Department/School

School of Psychological Sciences

Publisher

CSIRO Publishing

Place of publication

Australia

Rights statement

Copyright? The Authors 2018

Repository Status

  • Restricted

Socio-economic Objectives

Evaluation of health and support services not elsewhere classified

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