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Occupational impairment and disability among applicants for Social Security disability benefits in Pennsylvania.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Bresnitz, EA; Frumkin, H; Goldstein, L; Neumark, D; Hodgson, M; Needleman, C
Published in: Am J Public Health
November 1994

OBJECTIVE: The study goal was to assess the extent of workplace-related disease and injury among Social Security Disability Insurance applicants. METHODS: A convenience sample of 240 consecutive applicants to the Pennsylvania Bureau of Disability Determination was studied to assess the prevalence of work-related disorders. An applicant had a work-related condition if there was a clear statement of a workplace illness or injury associated with the impairment, or if the applicant had worked at an occupation with a high likelihood of exposures known or suspected to contribute to the condition of interest. RESULTS: Of the 240 applicants, 166 (69%) were awarded disability insurance benefits; a total of 27 (11%) had work-related conditions, including 14 of the 166 (8%) who were found to be disabled. Forty percent of the 27 had a disorder that was musculoskeletal in origin. Of 59 applicants with cancer, 10.2% had some work-related etiological component. Of an estimated 71,680 adult disability insurance applicants in Pennsylvania in 1990, 5134 new insurance beneficiaries had a projected occupationally related disability. CONCLUSIONS: A substantial number of applicants for disability insurance benefits suffer from an impairment caused or exacerbated by prior workplace exposures. These individuals may serve as sentinel events for initiating follow-up surveillance and prevention activities.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Am J Public Health

DOI

ISSN

0090-0036

Publication Date

November 1994

Volume

84

Issue

11

Start / End Page

1786 / 1790

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Wounds and Injuries
  • Social Security
  • Sampling Studies
  • Public Health
  • Prevalence
  • Population Surveillance
  • Pennsylvania
  • Occupations
  • Occupational Diseases
  • Insurance Claim Review
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
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Bresnitz, E. A., Frumkin, H., Goldstein, L., Neumark, D., Hodgson, M., & Needleman, C. (1994). Occupational impairment and disability among applicants for Social Security disability benefits in Pennsylvania. Am J Public Health, 84(11), 1786–1790. https://doi.org/10.2105/ajph.84.11.1786
Bresnitz, E. A., H. Frumkin, L. Goldstein, D. Neumark, M. Hodgson, and C. Needleman. “Occupational impairment and disability among applicants for Social Security disability benefits in Pennsylvania.Am J Public Health 84, no. 11 (November 1994): 1786–90. https://doi.org/10.2105/ajph.84.11.1786.
Bresnitz EA, Frumkin H, Goldstein L, Neumark D, Hodgson M, Needleman C. Occupational impairment and disability among applicants for Social Security disability benefits in Pennsylvania. Am J Public Health. 1994 Nov;84(11):1786–90.
Bresnitz, E. A., et al. “Occupational impairment and disability among applicants for Social Security disability benefits in Pennsylvania.Am J Public Health, vol. 84, no. 11, Nov. 1994, pp. 1786–90. Pubmed, doi:10.2105/ajph.84.11.1786.
Bresnitz EA, Frumkin H, Goldstein L, Neumark D, Hodgson M, Needleman C. Occupational impairment and disability among applicants for Social Security disability benefits in Pennsylvania. Am J Public Health. 1994 Nov;84(11):1786–1790.
Journal cover image

Published In

Am J Public Health

DOI

ISSN

0090-0036

Publication Date

November 1994

Volume

84

Issue

11

Start / End Page

1786 / 1790

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Wounds and Injuries
  • Social Security
  • Sampling Studies
  • Public Health
  • Prevalence
  • Population Surveillance
  • Pennsylvania
  • Occupations
  • Occupational Diseases
  • Insurance Claim Review