Description of the Main Causes of Prolonged Temporary Work Disability Identified by the Medical Working Group of General Hospital with Family Medicine No. 8

Authors

  • María Fernanda Sánchez Aguilar UNAM Author https://orcid.org/0009-0002-0222-8685
  • David Rosas de la Cruz Author
  • Jessica Estefanía Silva Guzmán Author
  • Miguel Ángel Martínez Hernández Author

Keywords:

WORK DISABILITY, OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH, OCCUPATIONAL MEDICINE

Abstract

Introduction: Prolonged temporary work disability affects workers’ health and generates economic consequences, making the identification of its causes essential. Materials and Methods: A descriptive, retrospective, longitudinal study was conducted from June 2023 to June 2024 using Annex 5 of the Medical Working Group at Family Medicine Unit No. 8. Kolmogorov-Smirnov, Mann-Whitney U, and Pearson’s χ² tests were used, with p<0.05 considered statistically significant. Results: Fifty-two annexes and 137 cases were analyzed. Disability days increased from 25,236 (184 days/case) to 31,379 (229 days/case). Medical causes predominated (73.7%), particularly delays in physical therapy and rehabilitation (32.67%) and deficiencies in the referral–counter-referral process (22.77%). Non-medical causes accounted for 26.3%, with lack of treatment continuity being the most frequent (47.22%). Conclusions: Prolonged temporary work disability increased considerably, mainly due to medical causes, particularly delays in physical therapy and rehabilitation.

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Author Biographies

  • David Rosas de la Cruz

    Introduction: Prolonged temporary work disability has a significant impact on workers’ health and imposes a considerable economic burden on both employers and the institution. Identifying and describing its underlying causes is essential for developing effective strategies aimed at reducing its duration and occurrence.

    Materials and Methods: A descriptive, retrospective, and longitudinal study was conducted from June 2023 to June 2024 using Annex 5 of the weekly meeting minutes of the Medical Working Group at Family Medicine Unit No. 8 (UMF No. 8). The normality of quantitative variables was assessed using the Kolmogorov–Smirnov test. Since the quantitative variables showed a non-normal distribution, comparisons between groups were performed using the Mann–Whitney U test. Associations between qualitative variables were assessed using Pearson’s chi-square (χ²) test. A p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

    Results: A total of 52 annexes were analyzed, from which 137 cases meeting the inclusion criteria were identified. Initially, these cases accounted for 25,236 days of temporary work disability, with a mean of 184 days per case; by the end of the study period, this figure had increased to 31,379 days, with a mean of 229 days per case. Medical causes predominated, accounting for 73.7% of cases. Delays in physical therapy and rehabilitation were the most frequent medical cause (32.67%), followed by deficiencies in the referral and counter-referral process (22.77%). Non-medical causes accounted for 26.3% of cases, with lack of continuity of treatment being the most frequent (47.22%).

    Conclusions: A substantial increase in the duration of prolonged temporary work disability was observed, mainly associated with medical causes. Among these, delays in physical therapy and rehabilitation were the most prevalent contributing factor.

  • Jessica Estefanía Silva Guzmán

    Introduction: Prolonged temporary work disability has a significant impact on workers’ health and imposes a considerable economic burden on both employers and the institution. Identifying and describing its underlying causes is essential for developing effective strategies aimed at reducing its duration and occurrence.

    Materials and Methods: A descriptive, retrospective, and longitudinal study was conducted from June 2023 to June 2024 using Annex 5 of the weekly meeting minutes of the Medical Working Group at Family Medicine Unit No. 8 (UMF No. 8). The normality of quantitative variables was assessed using the Kolmogorov–Smirnov test. Since the quantitative variables showed a non-normal distribution, comparisons between groups were performed using the Mann–Whitney U test. Associations between qualitative variables were assessed using Pearson’s chi-square (χ²) test. A p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

    Results: A total of 52 annexes were analyzed, from which 137 cases meeting the inclusion criteria were identified. Initially, these cases accounted for 25,236 days of temporary work disability, with a mean of 184 days per case; by the end of the study period, this figure had increased to 31,379 days, with a mean of 229 days per case. Medical causes predominated, accounting for 73.7% of cases. Delays in physical therapy and rehabilitation were the most frequent medical cause (32.67%), followed by deficiencies in the referral and counter-referral process (22.77%). Non-medical causes accounted for 26.3% of cases, with lack of continuity of treatment being the most frequent (47.22%).

    Conclusions: A substantial increase in the duration of prolonged temporary work disability was observed, mainly associated with medical causes. Among these, delays in physical therapy and rehabilitation were the most prevalent contributing factor.

  • Miguel Ángel Martínez Hernández

    Introduction: Prolonged temporary work disability has a significant impact on workers’ health and imposes a considerable economic burden on both employers and the institution. Identifying and describing its underlying causes is essential for developing effective strategies aimed at reducing its duration and occurrence.

    Materials and Methods: A descriptive, retrospective, and longitudinal study was conducted from June 2023 to June 2024 using Annex 5 of the weekly meeting minutes of the Medical Working Group at Family Medicine Unit No. 8 (UMF No. 8). The normality of quantitative variables was assessed using the Kolmogorov–Smirnov test. Since the quantitative variables showed a non-normal distribution, comparisons between groups were performed using the Mann–Whitney U test. Associations between qualitative variables were assessed using Pearson’s chi-square (χ²) test. A p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

    Results: A total of 52 annexes were analyzed, from which 137 cases meeting the inclusion criteria were identified. Initially, these cases accounted for 25,236 days of temporary work disability, with a mean of 184 days per case; by the end of the study period, this figure had increased to 31,379 days, with a mean of 229 days per case. Medical causes predominated, accounting for 73.7% of cases. Delays in physical therapy and rehabilitation were the most frequent medical cause (32.67%), followed by deficiencies in the referral and counter-referral process (22.77%). Non-medical causes accounted for 26.3% of cases, with lack of continuity of treatment being the most frequent (47.22%).

    Conclusions: A substantial increase in the duration of prolonged temporary work disability was observed, mainly associated with medical causes. Among these, delays in physical therapy and rehabilitation were the most prevalent contributing factor.

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Published

2026-11-13

Issue

Vol. 9 No. S7 (2026): Memoria 13o. Foro

Section

Memoria - Resultados Originales

License

Copyright (c) 2026 María Fernanda Sánchez Aguilar, David Rosas de la Cruz, Jessica Estefanía Silva Guzmán, Miguel Ángel Martínez Hernández (Autor/a)

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How to Cite

Description of the Main Causes of Prolonged Temporary Work Disability Identified by the Medical Working Group of General Hospital with Family Medicine No. 8. (2026). Revista Red De Investigación En Salud En El Trabajo, 9(S7), 68-70. https://rist.zaragoza.unam.mx/act/index.php/rist/article/view/47

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