Effectiveness of vocational rehabilitation following acquired brain injury: Preliminary evaluation of a UK specialist rehabilitation programme | Knowledge Translation for Employment Research Center

Authors:	Nachreiner, N. M., Dagher, R. K., McGovern, P. M., Baker, B. A., Alexander, B. H., & Gerberich, S. G.
Year Published	2006
Publication	Brain Injury
Volume	20
Number	11
Pages	1119-1129
Publisher	Informa Healthcare
Background	Individuals with Acquired Brain Injury have difficulties with returning to work. Studies show only around 30% returning to work.
Purpose	The purpose of the study is to determine the effectiveness of a vocational rehabilitation programme in assisting individuals with Acquired Brain Injury with returning to work or other meaningful activity.
Setting	Three Brain Injury Centres based across the United Kingdom.
Sample	Participants included 232 individuals with ABI who were discharged from the program between January 2000 and December 2002. The majority were males (82%) and 12% were females. The mean age was 33 years with a range from 17 to 62 years. The majority of injuries were TBI (62%). The date of a person's' injury and enrollment in the programme. ranged from 7 months to 35.5 years. And at the time of injury the majority of individuals has been employed (70%). At the time of entry into the program 92% of the participants were receiving an Incapacity Benefit and regarded as unemployable.
Data Collection	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.
Control	There was no control or comparison condition.
Findings	Upon exiting the programme, 41% of the participants had secured paid competitive employment; 16% were volunteering and 15% had entered a training or education. Among the remaining 28%, 15 % were discharged due to medical or rehabilitation programmes to deal with other issues and 13% withdrew. There was no formal cost analysis of the effectiveness of the intervention.
Conclusions	A total of 72% of those enrolled in the programme left to start a meaningful activity with 41% securing work. Vocational rehabilitation seems effective in assisting individuals with ABI with returning to work.
URL	http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17123928
Disabilities	Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
Populations	Male & Female \| Asian \| Black / African American \| White / Caucasian
Outcomes	Employment acquisition \| Return to work
NIDILRR Funded	No
Research Design	Observational
Peer Reviewed	Yes

Year Published

2006

Publication

Brain Injury

Volume

20

Number

11

Pages

1119-1129

Publisher

Informa Healthcare

Background

Individuals with Acquired Brain Injury have difficulties with returning to work. Studies show only around 30% returning to work.

Purpose

The purpose of the study is to determine the effectiveness of a vocational rehabilitation programme in assisting individuals with Acquired Brain Injury with returning to work or other meaningful activity.

Setting

Three Brain Injury Centres based across the United Kingdom.

Sample

Participants included 232 individuals with ABI who were discharged from the program between January 2000 and December 2002. The majority were males (82%) and 12% were females. The mean age was 33 years with a range from 17 to 62 years. The majority of injuries were TBI (62%). The date of a person's' injury and enrollment in the programme. ranged from 7 months to 35.5 years. And at the time of injury the majority of individuals has been employed (70%). At the time of entry into the program 92% of the participants were receiving an Incapacity Benefit and regarded as unemployable.

Data Collection

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.

Control

There was no control or comparison condition.

Findings

Upon exiting the programme, 41% of the participants had secured paid competitive employment; 16% were volunteering and 15% had entered a training or education. Among the remaining 28%, 15 % were discharged due to medical or rehabilitation programmes to deal with other issues and 13% withdrew. There was no formal cost analysis of the effectiveness of the intervention.

Conclusions

A total of 72% of those enrolled in the programme left to start a meaningful activity with 41% securing work. Vocational rehabilitation seems effective in assisting individuals with ABI with returning to work.

URL

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17123928

Disabilities

Traumatic brain injury (TBI)

Populations

Male & Female | Asian | Black / African American | White / Caucasian

Outcomes

Employment acquisition | Return to work

NIDILRR Funded

No

Research Design

Observational

Peer Reviewed

Yes