Table 3

Multivariable analysis of preinjury and injury-related characteristics associated with work absence modelled for 12 months and 24 months postinjury

Dimension: variable12 months (n=1583)24 months (n=1421)
aRR*95% CIaRR*95% CI
Sociodemographic: age
 18–29RefRef
 30–490.900.65 to 1.230.680.50 to 0.92
 50–640.800.55 to 1.160.750.53 to 1.06
Sociodemographic: gender
 FemaleRefRef
 Male1.401.03 to 1.901.911.42 to 2.57
Sociodemographic: income
 ≥$50 001RefRef
 $30 000–$50 0001.501.05 to 2.151.741.19 to 2.53
 ≤$30 0001.801.20 to 2.691.801.18 to 2.74
 No income given2.071.36 to 3.152.451.65 to 3.66
Sociodemographic: occupation
 ProfessionalRefRef
 Technical1.070.77 to 1.501.340.94 to 1.88
 Trade/manual1.551.11 to 2.151.731.23 to 2.45
 Unclassified1.090.44 to 2.711.540.75 to 3.19
Sociodemographic: income adequacy
 AdequateRef
 Inadequate0.800.62 to 1.01
Sociodemographic: financial security
 Secure/fairly secureRef
 Fairly insecure/insecure1.511.17 to 1.95
Psychosocial: job satisfaction
 Completely/mostly satisfiedRefRef
 Neither satisfied nor dissatisfied1.451.00 to 2.091.591.13 to 2.22
 Mostly/completely dissatisfied1.370.88 to 2.121.851.27 to 2.70
Physical: exertion
 NeverRef
 Occasionally half the time1.160.86 to 4.56
 Three-quarters of time or greater0.780.55 to 1.12
Work organisation: hours of work
 ≤30 hours1.651.16 to 2.33
 31–45 hoursRef
 ≥46 hours1.651.26 to 2.17
Work organisation: prework days
 ≤5 daysRef
 6–7 days1.351.03 to 1.78
Work organisation: employment contract
 Employee—permanentRefRef
 Employee—temporary/casual1.681.21 to 2.341.771.28 to 2.46
 Employee—fixed term2.151.34 to 3.441.400.79 to 2.48
 Self-employed1.330.90 to 1.971.270.81 to 1.98
 Employer0.450.19 to 1.060.420.14 to 1.24
Lifestyle: body mass index
 ≤24RefRef
 25–291.230.93 to 1.640.970.73 to 1.29
 ≥301.110.82 to 1.531.070.79 to 1.45
Health: comorbidities
 No comorbiditiesRefRef
 One co-morbidity1.030.76 to 1.400.740.53 to 1.04
 Two or more comorbidities1.651.24 to 2.211.791.36 to 2.35
Injury: work-related injury
 NoRefRef
 Yes1.521.19 to 2.921.531.20 to 1.97
Injury: prior injury
 NoRef
 Yes1.401.08 to 1.80
Injury: threat to life
 NoRef
 Yes/maybe1.481.07 to 2.04
  • *Additionally adjusted for time since injury, injury type and region, interview region and anatomical injury severity—NISS.

  • aRR, adjusted relative risk; NISS, New Injury Severity Score.