Quality of Life Post-Occupational Accident: A Reintegration and Forensic Approach

Background/Objectives: Health-related quality of life perception (HRQoL) reflects the impact of individuals’ health conditions on their physical, psychological, and social well-being, and can be compromised after an accident The general aim of this study was to analyze the effect of occupational accident (OA) outcomes on injured workers’ HRQoL. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study, using a convenience sample of 101 participants at the end of their recovery and professional reintegration (PR) process. They were submitted to a personal injury assessment (PIA) conducted by medico-legal specialists, and data related to injury severity (IS), permanent professional disability (PD), and PR were collected from the respective forensic reports. Subsequently, they underwent a psychological interview and filled out self-report questionnaires to measure HRQoL (SF-36) and resilience (RSA). For each variable, two groups were defined. Analyses included descriptive statistics, correlations, group comparisons, and multiple linear regression analyses. Results: Injured workers reported lower HRQoL than Portuguese norms across most domains. HRQoL scores were positively associated with resilience and PR, and negatively associated with IS and PD. In multivariable models, IS, and RSA emerged as significant independent associated variables of the physical–social HRQoL component. Conclusions: These findings highlight the importance of a biopsychosocial and multidisciplinary approach to OA victims’ professional reintegration, integrating physical treatment and psychological support with resilience-building and work rehabilitation, before medical discharge and PIA.