Persistent pain: its role in work absence, health, and employment after a disabling work-related injury
Presented by Kathleen Dobson, Institute for Work & Health
Tuesday, November 15, 2022
11:00 A.M. – 12:00 P.M.
Register for the webinar here
Among working-aged adults, one of every six injuries that need medical attention are caused by work exposures, with over a third of these injuries leading to periods of work absence or disability. Chronic or persistent pain may occur after an injury. It is currently unclear how many workers experience persistent pain and how it impacts worker health and function, return to work and disability benefit expenditures. In this presentation, Dr. Kathleen Dobson shares findings from a study of Ontario workers experiencing a work-related injury or illness focusing on the prevalence of persistent pain, and its association with return-to-work outcomes.
Dr. Kathleen Dobson is an associate scientist at the Institute for Work & Health. Dobson holds a PhD in epidemiology from the Dalla Lana School of Public Health at the University of Toronto and an MSc in health research methodology from McMaster University. Her current research explores how health impacts labour force participation and employment. Her current areas of focus are the economic consequences of mental illness, and how experiencing work-related injuries impacts health and employment outcomes.