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AbstractPurposeMethodResultsConclusions\nIMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATIONRates of return to work (RTW) are declining in the Australian workers compensation system alongside significant economic and social costs, disputes, and secondary psychological injury. Non-medical assessment of workplace injuries now considers psychosocial and workplace factors, and worker participation in the assessment process is limited. This scoping review examines studies regarding non-medical assessment during the acute phase of rehabilitation in terms of costs, disputes, secondary psychological injury, and worker participation.An electronic and manual search of relevant articles across four databases was conducted using PRISMA guidelines, followed by quality assessment.Of the 1,630 studies retrieved, 12 met the inclusion criteria with most focused on assessment for risk of obstructed or delayed RTW.Non-medical assessment in the acute stage of rehabilitation identifies risk for delayed or complicated RTW, overlooking potential for the process of assessment to contribute to disputes and development of secondary psychological injury. Doubt around the capacity of workers to participate objectively in assessment persists. These are aspects of assessment worthy of further exploration for their impact on RTW outcomes.Early assessment of injured workers is a key aspect of the rehabilitation process and there have been calls for greater injured worker involvement in their rehabilitation.Rehabilitation professionals should consider an injured worker’s phase of disability when conducting assessment for support needs.Consideration of psychological vulnerabilities of injured workers should be incorporated into assessment of support needs.Rehabilitation professionals should seek out ways to increase participation of injured workers in assessment of their support needs.Early assessment of injured workers is a key aspect of the rehabilitation process and there have been calls for greater injured worker involvement in their rehabilitation.Rehabilitation professionals should consider an injured worker’s phase of disability when conducting assessment for support needs.Consideration of psychological vulnerabilities of injured workers should be incorporated into assessment of support needs.Rehabilitation professionals should seek out ways to increase participation of injured workers in assessment of their support needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: In the face of significant costs for injured worker rehabilitation and its impact on society, ongoing examination of how rehabilitation is carried out is warranted. OBJECTIVE: To review recent studies that explored the impact of the worker's choice in terms of provider and treatment on the outcome for the worker in injury rehabilitation. METHOD: A systematic literature review was conducted using searches through electronic databases, with studies retrieved then subjected to a quality appraisal. RESULTS: Nineteen studies were eligible for inclusion. Studies reviewed found that choice of provider or treatment generated more positive outcomes for workers, and workers preferred a treatment provider familiar with their care. The worker's ability to exercise choice was affected by conflict with other stakeholders and misalignment of expectations. The relationship between choice and costs was unclear, sometimes conflicting. CONCLUSIONS: The impact of treatment and provider choice on outcomes for workers remains unclear. The worker's ability to choose may be hampered by systemic constraints, access to preferred providers, misalignment of stakeholder expectations, and the worker's ability to engage in decision making. Greater worker engagement in their rehabilitation could potentially reduce costs as well as improve psychosocial outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]