Success in the workplace following traumatic brain injury: Are we evaluating what is most important? | Knowledge Translation for Employment Research Center

Authors:	Lidz, V., Sorrentino, D. M., Robison, L., & Bunz, S.
Year Published	2004
Publication	Disability and Rehabilitation
Volume	26
Number	5
Pages	290-298
Publisher	Informa Healthcare
Background	Vocational outcome is one of the most important indicators of rehabilitation following a traumatic brain injury. Specifically, types of paid vocations, especially full-time work, are often viewed most favorably as a sign of success. The factors related to this perception of success are vast.
Purpose	This study aims at evaluating whether or not the common perceptions of success are in line with those factors that those individuals undergoing rehabilitation for traumatic brain injury (TBI) view as most indicative of progress following an injury.
Setting
Sample	The study sample included 4 males and 3 females between the ages of 26-51. Six were Europeans and one was of Maori descent. Participants had memory loss of one day to months. All were one year post injury.
Data Collection	Open-ended interviews with minimal prompting were taped and transcribed. They were then read and coded with comparisons to other interviews taking place at the same time. The transcripts were then sent to the participants for verification of accuracy.
Control	There was no control or comparison condition.
Findings	The results indicated that while participants view return to work as an important goal of rehabilitation following TBI, they also valued other means of feeling successful , not having a stressful work life affect their personal life, and feeling successful without full time pay (previously considered the goal) to be of near equal importance.
Conclusions	While paid employment is important, the work must also provide feelings of productivity and success. The researchers also feel evaluation of these individuals should take more subjective factors into consideration of their "success" of rehabilitation.
URL	http://www.worksupport.com/kter/documents/pdf/LevackRTWafterTBI.pdf
Disabilities	Traumatic brain injury (TBI)
Populations	Male & Female
Outcomes	Full-time employment \| Return to work
NIDILRR Funded	Not Reported
Research Design	Mixed methods
Peer Reviewed	Yes

Year Published

2004

Publication

Disability and Rehabilitation

Volume

26

Number

5

Pages

290-298

Publisher

Informa Healthcare

Background

Vocational outcome is one of the most important indicators of rehabilitation following a traumatic brain injury. Specifically, types of paid vocations, especially full-time work, are often viewed most favorably as a sign of success. The factors related to this perception of success are vast.

Purpose

This study aims at evaluating whether or not the common perceptions of success are in line with those factors that those individuals undergoing rehabilitation for traumatic brain injury (TBI) view as most indicative of progress following an injury.

Setting

Sample

The study sample included 4 males and 3 females between the ages of 26-51. Six were Europeans and one was of Maori descent. Participants had memory loss of one day to months. All were one year post injury.

Data Collection

Open-ended interviews with minimal prompting were taped and transcribed. They were then read and coded with comparisons to other interviews taking place at the same time. The transcripts were then sent to the participants for verification of accuracy.

Control

There was no control or comparison condition.

Findings

The results indicated that while participants view return to work as an important goal of rehabilitation following TBI, they also valued other means of feeling successful , not having a stressful work life affect their personal life, and feeling successful without full time pay (previously considered the goal) to be of near equal importance.

Conclusions

While paid employment is important, the work must also provide feelings of productivity and success. The researchers also feel evaluation of these individuals should take more subjective factors into consideration of their "success" of rehabilitation.

URL

http://www.worksupport.com/kter/documents/pdf/LevackRTWafterTBI.pdf

Disabilities

Traumatic brain injury (TBI)

Populations

Male & Female

Outcomes

Full-time employment | Return to work

NIDILRR Funded

Not Reported

Research Design

Mixed methods

Peer Reviewed

Yes