5 July 2007
Accident victims who receive compensation payments have worse physical and life-quality outcomes, and take longer to recover compared to those who do not have compensation cover.
New research published in the latest Medical Journal of Australia adds to current evidence compensation schemes may be a barrier to recovery from injury.
The authors, Professor Peter Cameron, Head of the Emergency and Trauma Group at Monash University and his colleagues, found trauma patients subjected to orthopaedic injury, usually from transport accidents or falls, had worse outcomes if covered by compensation.
Professor Cameron said part of the research involved looking studies focusing on injuries such as whiplash and chronic back pain, as orthopaedic injury is the most common form of trauma requiring hospitalisation.
"Compensable patients were more likely than non-compensable patients to report moderate to severe disability at follow-up health checks," Professor Cameron said.
Patients who received compensation were also less likely to have returned to work or study after 12 months.
About two-thirds of the compensated patients had resumed employment or study a year after the injury, compared with 84 per cent of the non-compensated group.
Participants in the study were aged between 18 and 64 and primarily had broken bones.
Professor Cameron said psychological factors might at least partly explain the differences between the two groups.
"There's no doubt if you have a really positive attitude that must have a big impact on recovery."
The original article can be viewed online at the Medical Journal of Australia website.
The Medical Journal of Australia is a publication of the Australian Medical Association.
Professor Cameron can be contacted on 03 9903 0581 or 0405 500 397.
For further information, contact Steve Pogonowski, Media Communications, on 03 9905 1253.
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