Impacts of COVID-19 as recognized occupational disease (BK-Nr. 3101) or work-related accident on physical capacity, mental health, and ability to work – a contribution to rehabilitation management

Status:

ongoing

Aims:

The primary objective of the investigation is to accurately examine and describe medium- and long-term effects of COVID–19 as recognized occupational disease or work-related accident on physical capacity, mental health, and ability to work. Beyond that, it will be investigated whether different impacts can be detected in patients depending on age, gender, previous illnesses and associated occupational group. Additionally, the results should give a better understanding of potential correlations between COVID–19 and physical health, mental health, and ability to work. Moreover, there will be a documentation of special characteristics when implementing an inpatient rehabilitation for persons suffering from COVID–19 as recognized occupational disease or work-related accident. Based on these results, indications for more competency in rehabilitation management will be derived with the aim of maintaining health and occupational and social participation.

Activities/Methods:

The implementation of the research approach is planned as a prospective, uncontrolled, longitudinal observational study with four points of measurements as a case series at the BG Hospital for Occupational Disease Bad Reichenhall.

Within the research project the quantitative data will be collected prospectively within nine months with measurement points at the beginning (T1) and the end (T2) of an inpatient rehabilitation as well as after 6 (T3) and 12 months (T4). Besides objective measurement methods determining physical capacity (e.g. cardiovascular fitness test, Six-minute walk test, blood gas analysis, pulmonary function test), measurement methods capturing mental health and ability to work (standardised, valid, and reliable questionnaires) will be applied. Furthermore, characteristic for the implementation of an inpatient rehabilitation and a sustainable rehabilitation management for patients after COVID - 19 will be documented. Therefore, project employees of the BG Hospital for Occupational Disease Bad Reichenhall will be interviewed with the help of standardised questionnaires and interviews.

Last Update: