LAUSR

OBJECTIVE To investigate the impact of patient and injury characteristics on employment for working-age, adult burn survivors using the multicenter Burn Model System national database. DESIGN Longitudinal survey; Setting: Multicenter regional burn centers PARTICIPANTS: Adult burn survivors (n=967) age > 18 years with known employment status prior to injury were included in the analysis at 12-months following injury. INTERVENTIONS Not applicable MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Employment status at 12-months after injury RESULTS: The analyses determined that those employed pre-injury had higher odds of being employed (OR: 8.1; CI: 4.9-13.1). White, non-Hispanic individuals were also more likely to be employed (OR: 1.49; CI: 1.0-2.1). Older individuals, females, those with longer hospitalizations, amputation during the acute hospitalization and those with high pain interference at hospital discharge had lower odds of working after injury. Pre-injury living situation, pre-injury alcohol and drug misuse, number of acute operations and burn size (%Total Body Surface Area; TBSA) were not significant predictors of employment status at 12-months postburn. CONCLUSION Pre-injury employment remains the most significant predictor for postburn employment. Although past reports have focused on predictors for postburn employment, we believe that we need to seek greater understanding of modifiable risk factors for unemployment and examine issues related to work retention, performance, accommodations and career trajectories for the working-age burn survivor.