Factors associated with employment stability following traumatic brain injury, in a sample who have received comprehensive vocational rehabilitation

Abstract

Purpose

To quantify employment stability of individuals with traumatic brain injury (TBI) who received comprehensive vocational rehabilitation (VR) using different measures to identify difficulties experienced and factors associated with employment stability.

Materials and methods

72 individuals with predominantly moderate-severe TBI were interviewed. Neuropsychological assessment scores were collected. Three employment stability measures were used: number of post-injury employers, duration with employer and average weekly hours. Descriptive and predictive analyses were performed.

Results

90.2% remained employed at time of interview (Mean = 4.83 years post-injury). However, participants worked significantly fewer hours, 63.9% had changed roles or employers at least once and only 51% achieved their pre-injury level of responsibility. 61% reported a high level of employer support. Self-reported difficulties included physical sequelae, memory problems and fatigue. Post-injury testing found impaired memory (34.4%) and processing speed (49.2%). After accounting for time since injury, demographic and employment variables (older age, male gender, higher pre-injury skill-level, higher level of employer support), higher level of injury-related difficulties and lower level of cognitive function significantly predicted employment stability.

Conclusion

Injury-related difficulties impact employment long-term, necessitating ongoing work modifications. Individualised VR is important, not only to facilitate return to work but to support long-term employment stability after TBI.

Implications for rehabilitation

• Being male was associated with working more hours, and having faster processing speed, lower levels of fatigue and ongoing physical sequelae were associated with a longer duration with the same employer.

• Initial return to work is often the first step on a long journey as injury-related difficulties can continue to impact work in the-long term and require lasting modifications to duties and working hours.

• VR should include ongoing follow-up to facilitate work modifications and support both the employer and the employee in adjusting to these.

• VR should be individualised to support the impact of the unique cognitive and physical limitations experienced by each individual with TBI, based on the needs and employment demands of each workplace.

Keywords:

• Traumatic brain injury
• vocational rehabilitation
• employment
• return to work
• employment stability

Acknowledgement

No financial interest or benefit has arisen from the direct applications of this research. All participants in this study have acknowledged that they cannot be identified via this paper; and that the authors have fully anonymized them.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).