The psychological effects of work-related hand injuries
Study design. Quantitative. Purpose of the study. To identify the psychological symptoms associated with work related injuries and evaluate the relationship between the symptoms and the time returning to work. Method. Participants were sixteen patients receiving hand therapy for work-related hand injuries. An Injured Worker Survey was given prior to the initial hand therapy assessment. The participants' medical charts were reviewed to obtain medical history, demographic information and the "yes" responses for the psychological symptoms were charted. Results. All of the participants reported psychological complaints and the correlation between the symptoms and time off work was statistically significant (Pearson coefficient = .66 at .01 level). Conclusion. The study suggests that hand injured workers do experience psychological symptoms after their injuries and delayed return to work.
Health and environmental sciences, Psychology, Post traumatic stress disorder, PTSD
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