Employment After Liver Transplantation: A Review

Abstract

Personal Assistance Services (PAS) employs nearly 900,000 providers of long-term care; many are relatives hired by PAS recipients. Risk of occupational injury and musculoskeletal disorders among PAS providers is a concern and it is unknown if relatives are more vulnerable compared to non-relative providers. This paper explores whether paid relative and non-relative providers differ regarding this vulnerability, using data from a survey of PAS providers (n=855). No differences were found regarding risk of injury or musculoskeletal disorders, which suggests that PAS programs could continue offering options for recipients to hire relatives as providers, with no additional risks placed on relatives.

Hepatic encephalopathy before and neurological complications after liver transplantation have no impact on the employment status 1 year after transplantation

“…This is in accordance with the findings of other studies[2-5,8,29] which came to similar results, irrespective of the country or continent where the study was performed[9]. …”

“…Resuming work after OLT for patients who were not employed before OLT seems quite unlikely as only 10 (18.2%) of the not employed patients of our cohort returned to work after OLT. Similar results were described in other studies[9]. Probably the time off work is too long, determining low confidence in patients and employers that reintegration is possible.…”

“…Furthermore, bureaucracy and fear of losing pension claims might play a role. Additionally, our data (Tables 3-6) and that of others[9] indicate that returning to the pre OLT job might be impaired by poor physical or impaired mental functioning. Achieving an occupational retraining, however, is extensive and support for patients might be low.…”

“…Reasons why patients do not work after OLT are believed to be manifold. Local social security insurance system, age, sex, level of vocational training, level of school education, type of work, disability, unemployment before OLT, underlying liver disease, high morbidity due to liver disease and complications after OLT have been discussed[4,9]. Hereof, employment itself and the type of employment before OLT were considered to be the most important predictors of post OLT employment[3].…”

Researching Complex and Multi-Level Workplace Factors Affecting Disability and Prolonged Sickness Absence

“…Work environment factors include functional—job-specific factors, temporal—timing of work factors, physical—biomechanical ergonomics, and interpersonal—social factors such as solitary work or supervision. Most studies using this model have examined development of work-related disorders or worker performance or work productivity; few have examined work disabilityEmployment after liver transplantation: a review [86]Cancer and work model [25]This evidence-based model includes work environment and demands factors, as well as function and health variables. Four outcomes are addressed including return to work, work ability, work performance, and sustainability (retention)Predictors of employment among cancer survivors after medical rehabilitation: a prospective study [87] …”