Classification and Review of Factors Influencing Return-to-Work Timelines After Occupational Injuries
Abstract
The article presents a comprehensive classification and critical review of factors influencing return-to-work (RTW) timelines after occupational injuries, from an interdisciplinary perspective and using predictive modeling. The research relevance is driven not only by the socio-economic magnitude of the issue, but also by an increasing need for evidence-based strategies to manage work sustainability. The objective is to systematize and classify biological, psychological, organizational, and regulatory determinants shaping the duration of work disability, and to compare traditional clinical approaches with contemporary predictive analytics tools. The novelty lies in integrating the conceptual model of the Arena for Work Disability Prevention with modern machine-learning methods, thereby constructing a holistic, multi-level schema of influences that range from individual attitudes and psychophysiological resources to institutional regulators and macroeconomic conditions. The main findings demonstrate that disability duration emerges from the interaction of four circuits: personal, workplace, healthcare, and regulatory. It is shown that graded RTW programs, cognitive-behavioral and organizational interventions, and coordinated participation by the physician, employer, and insurer can shorten the average time-to-work resumption by several weeks. The article is intended for researchers in occupational medicine and rehabilitation, occupational safety professionals, healthcare managers, and developers of digital solutions for predictive monitoring of work sustainability.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Medical Practices and Rehabilitation
Occupational Health and Safety in Workplaces
Workplace Health and Well-being
Publication details
- Journal / source
- International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR)
- Pages
- 787–793
- Publication date
- 15 January 2026