Black / African American

Data collection was done across three state VR agencies. Social capital was measured by looking at four questions including if applicants had anyone that they could rely on for help: 1. finding a job 2. borrowing money to pay an urgent bill, 3. with transportation to get to work urgently, and 4. help with a serious personal crisis.

Participants in phase 1 were compared with participants in phase 2 on baseline characteristics by using chi square tests and t tests. All available participants were included in all analyses whether or not they were currently participating in IPS. Mixed models were then used to compare outcomes between the phases over the two-year follow-up period, controlling for baseline differences, using the MIXED procedure of SAS, with the alpha set at <.05.

Data were collected from November 2001 to November 2002 for all patients who received vocational input. This information included:
• demographic variables: age, gender, ethnicity;
• clinical variables: primary diagnosis, duration of contact with the team, discipline of care coordinator.
Information on vocational status was collected on first contact with each patient and thereafter on a monthly basis.

Demographic and mental health status were obtained through participant interviews at baseline and one year out. Symptom severity was measured using the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale. Alcohol and drug use were examined using scores from the Addiction Severity Index. Functional status was assessed using the Global Assessment Scale. Fidelity to the IPCC Model was measured using the Dartmouth Assertive Community Treatment scale. A liberal measure was used to determine employment. In the data analysis, only composite scores were examined. Bivariate analyses were used to examine differences between demographic and mental health status variables. Multivariate logistic regression was used to look at the contribution of the independent variable.

Data for this study were obtained through the Alabama Student Tracking System and a follow-along survey one year post school exit related to participation in employment, postsecondary education, and other adult activities. Data analysis was a hierarchical logistic regression analysis.

Eighty five studies were identified between 1980 and 2003 that reported on factors associated with employment outcomes post TBI. Among those fifty studies met the inclusion criteria for the second stage review. The criteria used to evaluate and rate the quality of methodology for each study was adapted on guidelines by Sherer 2002 and Pengel et. al. 2003.

All subjects were followed for 12 months with face-to-face interviews every three months to collect data on primary employment variables and secondary outcomes measured. After this initial 12 months, the follow-up period was extended to 24 months at all sites including telephone interviews every three months. MANCOVAs were used to determine treatment group differences over time on the outcome variables (employment index, perceived barriers to employment, level of disability, quality of life, depression, and sustaining care needs), controlling for specified covariates. This included study site, sex, and age.

Competitive employment was as a primary outcome measure and measured every three months. Competitive employment is "community jobs that pay at least minimum wage (directly by the employer to the employee) that any person can apply for, including full-time and part-time jobs." General rehabilitation outcomes were measured at baseline and 3-month follow-up interviews. Standardized measures used included 1) Alcohol Use Disorders Identification test, 2)The Craig Handicap Assessment and Reporting Technique (CHART), 3) VR-36 that measures health-related quality of life in veterans, and 4) The Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology Self-Report.

Demographic variables were also collected such as age, sec, race/ethnicity, employment history, previous levels of income, educational background, legal history, lifetime employment history, vocational services history, duration of SCI, level of SCE, and type of family structure.

The following data were gathered from VESID central files for fiscal years 2001 (October 1, 2000–September 30, 2001) and 2002 (October 1, 2001–September 30, 2002): case status (26 successfully placed for 90 days, 28 closed after IPE-initiated, 30 closed before IPE initiated, 8 closed before IPE developed), weekly earnings at closure, hours worked per week at closure, cost of case services provided to each consumer, consumer demographic characteristics (gender, level of education, employment status at application, ethnicity, age), and name of the state VR counselor serving the consumer. By using case status, the proportion of successful closures (i.e., case status 26) were compared with unsuccessful closures (i.e., case status 8, 28, and 30) for the PWW counselors and other counselors in the catchment areas served by using Pearson chi-square analyses. One-tailed t tests were used to compare weekly earnings at closure, hours worked per week at closure, and cost of services for PWW consumers versus the matched consumers.

A comparison of individuals who were randomized (n=69) to IPS or the Brokered treatment with those who were not randomized (n=18) reveals no statistically significant demographic differences between the two samples. Similarly the randomized individuals did not differ significantly from those who were not randomized in prior illness indicators or symptom severity at screening.

Data was gathered using administrative databases and other records located at the three centres. Job roles were classified using the UK standard occupational classification system. Data on outcomes was classified into one of the following: paid competitive work, education and training, voluntary work, discharge to other services, client withdrew and discharged for other reasons.