Publications by authors named "Collie A"
Purpose: Evidence shows that patient outcomes following musculoskeletal injury have been associated with the timing of care. Despite the increasing number of injured workers presenting with low back pain (LBP) in primary care, little is known about the factors that are associated with the timing of initial healthcare provider visits. This study investigated factors that are associated with the timing of initial workers' compensation (WC)-funded care provider visits for LBP claims.
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- * The study analyzed data from LBP claims between 2010 and 2018, focusing on when and how often these medications were dispensed, as well as patterns of switching between different antidepressants.
- * Various factors influenced the dispensing of antidepressants, including demographic aspects like sex and age, prior use of other pain medications, and socioeconomic status, indicating a complex interplay between mental and physical health treatment strategies in this population.
Impact of extreme bushfire seasons on rates of occupational injury and disease compensation claims in first responders.
Int Arch Occup Environ Health
December 2024
Purpose: This study aimed to use workers' compensation (WC) data to explore the impact of the extreme bushfires on injury/disease claim rates amongst first responders (FR) compared with other occupations and off-seasons.
Methods: Data on WC claims for FR (ambulance officers, paramedics, firefighters, police) and other occupations were obtained from WorkSafe Victoria 2005-2022. Negative binomial regression models adjusting for age, gender and number of employed people were used to estimate incident rate ratios of all injury/disease, mental, musculoskeletal and respiratory claims among FR in summer and extreme bushfires compared to off-season/summer and other occupations.
Article Synopsis
- Limited research has focused on the health effects of extreme bushfire exposure on emergency responders (ERs) in Victoria, Australia; this study analyzed ER compensation claims from 2005 to 2023 during extreme bushfire events in 2009 and 2019/20.
- Among 44,164 claims, 2.5% occurred during extreme bushfire periods, with police making the largest portion (52.4%), and older workers (ages ≥55) were more likely to file claims related to mental disorders, intracranial injuries, and infections.
- The findings highlight the need for preventative measures such as health surveillance and mental health support for ERs, especially as extreme bushfire events are expected to increase alongside an
Objectives: To describe and compare the incidence and trends of workers' compensation (WC) claims for psychological injury: (1) between health and social care (HSC) industry and other industries; (2) among specific occupations in the HSC industry; and (3) to determine if psychological injury claim rates differ by age and gender in the HSC industry and among specific occupations.
Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted using data from the New South Wales WC system. Workers with accepted psychological injury claims between July 2012 and June 2021 were included.
Objectives: Preterm birth is a leading cause of neonatal mortality and the second-leading cause of death among children under five worldwide. Recent systematic reviews have demonstrated an increased risk of preterm birth in women exposed to workplace physical and psychosocial risks during pregnancy. The extent to which this evidence is reflected in policy remains unclear.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjectives: The increase in gabapentinoid prescribing is paralleling the increase in serious harms. To describe the low back pain workers compensation population whose management included a gabapentinoid between 2010 and 2017, and determine secular trends in, and factors associated with gabapentinoid use.
Methods: We analysed claim-level and service-level data from the Victorian workers' compensation programme between 1 January 2010 and 31 December 2017 for workers with an accepted claim for a low back pain injury and who had programme-funded gabapentinoid dispensing.
Objectives: To determine the national burden of working time lost to occupational injury and disease in Australia compensable by workers' compensation schemes; to characterise the distribution of time lost by age, sex, and injury and disease type.
Study Design: Retrospective population-based study; analysis of National Dataset for Compensation-based Statistics (NDS) data.
Setting, Participants: Granted workers' compensation claims by people aged 15-100 years including payment of wage replacement benefits for time off work lodged in Australia, 1 July 2012 - 30 June 2017.
Objectives: To identify the prevalence and frequency of physiotherapy, chiropractic, and/or osteopathy care in Australians with workers' compensation claims for low back pain (LBP).
Methods: We included workers with accepted workers' compensation claims longer than 2 weeks from the Australian states of Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, and Western Australia. Workers were grouped by whether they attended physiotherapy, chiropractic, and/or osteopathy in the first 2 years of their claim.
Purpose: Work-related low back pain (WRLBP) is a highly prevalent health problem worldwide leading to work disability and increased healthcare utilisation. General practitioners (GPs) play an important role in the management of WRLBP. Despite this, understanding of GP service use for WRLBP is limited.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Health and Social Care (HSC) workers face psychological health risks in the workplace. While many studies have described psychological injuries in HSC workers, few have examined the determinants. Previous research has primarily focused on hospitals, lacking systematic reviews of community-based settings.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWorkers with low back pain (LBP) frequently seek care from physiotherapists. We sought to identify patterns of physiotherapy attendance and factors associated with these patterns in Australian workers with accepted compensation claims for LBP. We included workers with accepted workers' compensation claims for LBP from 4 Australian states between 2011 and 2015.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: This study aims to characterize the approaches to collecting, coding, and reporting health care and medicines data within Australian workers' compensation schemes.
Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey of data and information professionals in major Australian workers' compensation jurisdictions. Questionnaires were developed with input from key informants and a review of existing documentation.
Purpose: To describe the volume, timing and provider of mental health services provided to workers with accepted low back pain (LBP) claims, and to identify determinants of service volume and time to first mental health service.
Methods: Using claim and service-level workers' compensation data from four Australian states (Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia, Victoria) for LBP claims with at least one mental health service lodged between 1 July 2011 and 30 June 2015. Mental health services occurring 30 days prior to 730 days following claim acceptance were examined.
Objectives: Preterm birth is one of the global public health issues that result in high rates of infant mortality and long-term health complications. We sought to explore the association between psychosocial work factors and preterm birth.
Study Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis.
Introduction: Longitudinal studies can provide timely and accurate information to evaluate and inform COVID-19 control and mitigation strategies and future pandemic preparedness. The Optimise Study is a multidisciplinary research platform established in the Australian state of Victoria in September 2020 to collect epidemiological, social, psychological and behavioural data from priority populations. It aims to understand changing public attitudes, behaviours and experiences of COVID-19 and inform epidemic modelling and support responsive government policy.
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- There is a lack of comprehensive reviews analyzing how the time between symptom onset and the first healthcare visit affects outcomes for workers with musculoskeletal issues and workers' compensation claims.
- This scoping review collected and analyzed 31 peer-reviewed studies, revealing factors that influence the timing of health service initiation, such as worker gender and job demands.
- The findings indicate that quicker access to physical therapy and specific interventions is linked to better worker outcomes, while certain medical practices lead to longer disabilities and higher costs.
Introduction: Pandemic public health measures have affected mental health for many people. We sought to determine how people were managing their mental health concerns during the pandemic, and to identify worker characteristics where actions were more common.
Methods: A prospective cohort of 1646 Australians, who were in paid employment prior to the pandemic, completed a survey during 27 April- 26 July 2020 on changes in work, health, and actions taken to manage their mental health concerns.
Background: Opioid use prior to spinal surgery is common among patients with workers' compensation (WC) claims. Extended opioid use for pain management in this population is associated with several adverse outcomes including delayed return to work (RTW).
Objective: This systematic review and meta-analysis aim to assess the evidence on the association of preoperative opioid use with stable RTW and RTW within 1-year after spinal surgery.
Aim: To evaluate the average age and primary reason for the first dental visit among patients with special health care needs (SHCN) as well as to examine barriers related to accessing care for children with special health care needs.
Methods: This is a cross-sectional survey that was distributed to caregivers of children with special health care needs (CSHCN). Study data was collected through REDCap, a secure web-based survey application.
Article Synopsis
- The study investigated how long health and social care (HSC) workers experience disability and the impact of compensated time loss due to psychological injuries, comparing HSC with other industries.
- Findings revealed that HSC workers had a median disability duration of 12.4 weeks, which is shorter than the 15.3 weeks in other sectors; ambulance officers faced the longest duration, while nurses had the shortest.
- The study highlights the need for tailored rehabilitation and psychological support for different HSC job roles to better manage the effects of psychological injuries and enhance return-to-work rates.
Background: Assessing the fidelity of intervention components enables researchers to make informed judgements about the influence of those components on the observed outcome. The 'Implementing work-related Mental health guidelines in general PRacticE' (IMPRovE) trial is a hybrid III trial aiming to increase adherence to the 'Clinical Guidelines for the diagnosis and management of work-related mental health conditions in general practice'. IMPRovE is a multifaceted intervention, with one of the central components being academic detailing (AD).
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- - A systematic review and meta-analysis analyzed the connection between physical occupational risks (like heavy lifting and long hours) and preterm birth, covering data from 37 studies.
- - Findings indicated moderate evidence that high physical workload, extended working hours, shift work, and exposure to whole-body vibrations increase the risk of preterm birth, with risks rising by 44% for long hours and 63% for shift work.
- - The study emphasizes the need for supportive work environments, protective policies, screenings by healthcare providers, and awareness among pregnant women to reduce these job-related risks.