Lag times in the work disability process: Differences across diagnoses in the length of disability following work-related injury

BACKGROUND: The amount of time between key points in the work disability and workers' compensation process, referred to as lag times, has been shown to relate to work disability outcomes but little research has examined how this finding may differ based on the diagnosis associated with the cause of work disability. OBJECTIVE: To examine whether relationships between lag times in the work disability process and disability duration vary by diagnosis in a sample of workers' compensation claims. METHODS: Using workers' compensation claims, Analysis of Covariance was used to estimate differences in disability duration across three lag times (days from the date of injury to: reporting the injury, seeking medical care, and starting lost work time paid by the workers' compensation insurer) and injury diagnosis groups (Work-related Musculoskeletal Disorders (WRMSD) and fractures). RESULTS: WRMSD tended to have longer lag times than fractures, whereas disability duration tended to be longer for fractures than WRMSD. Overall, shorter lag times were associated with shorter disability duration, but the relationships varied across diagnosis groups, and greater variation in disability duration was observed for WRMSD compared to fractures. CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest the importance of responding to work-related injuries by reporting the injury, receiving medical care, and taking time off of work if necessary, in a timely fashion.