Abstract
Objectives: Return to work (RTW) after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) reflects neurological, psychological, and social recovery. Although survival after OHCA has improved, evidence on RTW prevalence, assessment methods, and influencing factors remains limited. This scoping review aimed to synthesize current evidence on RTW definitions, rates, and determinants among OHCA survivors.
Methods: Six databases (PubMed, Embase, Scopus, CINAHL, Web of Science, and PsycINFO) were searched from inception to July 2025. Studies involving adult OHCA survivors that reported RTW outcomes were included; those focusing solely on in-hospital cardiac arrest or without RTW data were excluded.
Results: Ten observational studies, including 4,465 survivors, were identified. Reported RTW rates ranged from 33 % to 80.5 %, reflecting differences in study design, definition, and follow-up duration. Favorable neurological recovery, preserved cognition, younger age, higher socioeconomic status, and pre-arrest full-time employment were consistently associated with higher RTW. Survivors with prolonged hospitalization or cognitive and psychological difficulties were less likely to achieve complete reintegration. Workplace accommodations, though rarely evaluated, appeared to facilitate sustained employment. Only a minority returned to work without modification.
Conclusions: RTW after OHCA is a multidimensional outcome shaped by clinical recovery, cognitive and psychological health, and workplace context. Standardized RTW definitions and harmonized outcome measures are needed to enhance comparability across studies and to inform coordinated vocational rehabilitation that supports sustainable work and social reintegration among survivors.
Implications for Clinical Practice: Healthcare providers should incorporate comprehensive RTW assessment in post-OHCA care, including cognitive function, psychological status, and work capacity evaluation. Early identification of barriers and coordinated rehabilitation planning with occupational health services may optimize vocational outcomes and support sustainable employment among survivors.
Notes
Reference list included as separate attached file.
Sigma Membership
Non-member
Type
Poster
Format Type
Text-based Document
Study Design/Type
Other
Research Approach
Quantitative Research
Keywords:
Acute Care, Long-Term Care, Health Equity or Social Determinants of Health, Cardiac Arrest, Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest, Return to Work
Recommended Citation
Lu, I-Ying; Lou, Meei-Fang; Chen, Yi-Hui; Lim, Shir Lynn; and Chang, Nien-Tzu, "Return-to-Work After Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest: A Scoping Review" (2026). International Nursing Research Congress (INRC). 12.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/inrc/2026/posters_2026/12
Conference Name
37th International Nursing Research Congress
Conference Host
Sigma Theta Tau International
Conference Location
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Conference Year
2026
Rights Holder
All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record. All permission requests should be directed accordingly and not to the Sigma Repository. All submitting authors or publishers have affirmed that when using material in their work where they do not own copyright, they have obtained permission of the copyright holder prior to submission and the rights holder has been acknowledged as necessary.
Review Type
Abstract Review Only: Reviewed by Event Host
Acquisition
Proxy-submission
Date of Issue
2026-07-22
Return-to-Work After Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest: A Scoping Review
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Objectives: Return to work (RTW) after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) reflects neurological, psychological, and social recovery. Although survival after OHCA has improved, evidence on RTW prevalence, assessment methods, and influencing factors remains limited. This scoping review aimed to synthesize current evidence on RTW definitions, rates, and determinants among OHCA survivors.
Methods: Six databases (PubMed, Embase, Scopus, CINAHL, Web of Science, and PsycINFO) were searched from inception to July 2025. Studies involving adult OHCA survivors that reported RTW outcomes were included; those focusing solely on in-hospital cardiac arrest or without RTW data were excluded.
Results: Ten observational studies, including 4,465 survivors, were identified. Reported RTW rates ranged from 33 % to 80.5 %, reflecting differences in study design, definition, and follow-up duration. Favorable neurological recovery, preserved cognition, younger age, higher socioeconomic status, and pre-arrest full-time employment were consistently associated with higher RTW. Survivors with prolonged hospitalization or cognitive and psychological difficulties were less likely to achieve complete reintegration. Workplace accommodations, though rarely evaluated, appeared to facilitate sustained employment. Only a minority returned to work without modification.
Conclusions: RTW after OHCA is a multidimensional outcome shaped by clinical recovery, cognitive and psychological health, and workplace context. Standardized RTW definitions and harmonized outcome measures are needed to enhance comparability across studies and to inform coordinated vocational rehabilitation that supports sustainable work and social reintegration among survivors.
Implications for Clinical Practice: Healthcare providers should incorporate comprehensive RTW assessment in post-OHCA care, including cognitive function, psychological status, and work capacity evaluation. Early identification of barriers and coordinated rehabilitation planning with occupational health services may optimize vocational outcomes and support sustainable employment among survivors.
Description
Status: Completed Work/Project
Summary: In summary, RTW after OHCA is a multidimensional process influenced by clinical recovery, cognitive and psychological health, and workplace context. Standardized RTW definitions, longitudinal data, and integrated vocational rehabilitation are essential for optimizing social and occupational reintegration among survivors. Future research should encompass diverse healthcare systems and adopt long-term, cross-national perspectives to guide equitable rehabilitation strategies.