Course of recovery for whiplash associated disorders in a compensation setting.

Context: The detailed course of recovery following compensable whiplash associated disorders (WAD) is not well understood. Some people recover within months and others report symptoms for extended periods. Recent research identified distinct recovery pathways.

Associations with duration of compensation following whiplash sustained in a motor vehicle crash.

Context: Continued exposure to compensation systems has been reported as deleterious to the health of participants. Understanding the associations with time to claim closure could allow for targeted interventions aimed at minimising the time participants are exposed to the compensation system.

Study Objective: To identify the associations of extended time receiving compensation benefits with the aim of developing a prognostic model that predicts time to claim closure.

The effect of financial compensation on health outcomes following musculoskeletal injury: systematic review.

The effect of financial compensation on health outcomes following musculoskeletal injury requires further exploration because results to date are varied and controversial. This systematic review identifies compensation related factors associated with poorer health outcomes following musculoskeletal injury. Searches were conducted using electronic medical journal databases (Medline, CINAHL, Embase, Informit, Web of Science) for prospective studies published up to October 2012.

Associations with legal representation in a compensation setting 12 months after injury.

Context: Many people with Whiplash Associated Disorder (WAD) seek treatment though a compensation system where factors such as legal involvement have been reported as having a negative impact on recovery outcomes.

Objective: To compare those with and without legal involvement in their compensation claim, and identify associations with legal involvement at 12 months post injury; and longer term disability.

Study Design: Inception cohort study.

Determining return to work in a compensation setting: a review of New South Wales workplace rehabilitation service provider referrals over 5 years.

Background: Australian workers' compensation data reports a reduction in injury rates and claim incidence but no improvement in Return to Work (RTW) rates.

Objective: To identify factors associated with a positive RTW outcome and describe those referred to Workplace Rehabilitation Providers (WRPs) in the New South Wales (NSW) Australian workers' compensation scheme.

Methods: A retrospective review of 65,762 de-identified WRP case records over a 5 year period.

Identifying predictors of early non-recovery in a compensation setting: The Whiplash Outcome Study.

Context: People with Whiplash Associated Disorder (WAD) often experience pain and disability for extended periods of time. A large proportion of these people will seek treatment through a compensation process. Rarely is data related to people's health collected within the compensation process making it difficult to identify those that are at risk of delayed recovery and appropriately direct interventions.