Factors associated with sustaining work after an acquired brain injury: a scoping review

Abstract

Purpose

Maintaining work in the long term represents a major challenge for people with acquired brain injury (ABI) as evidenced by a high rate of premature labour market dropouts. The present study aimed to compile factors associated with working in the long term after sustaining an ABI.

Materials and methods

We carried out a scoping review synthesizing quantitative and qualitative research conducted between 2000 and 2021. Databases searched comprised PubMed, CINAHL Complete, PsycINFO, Scopus, and Web of Science.

Results

Ten quantitative and nine qualitative studies were included, all but one from high-resource countries. Quantitative research predominantly comprised longitudinal follow-ups on individuals’ work status several years post ABI onset, showing an effect of injury-related and sociodemographic factors. Qualitative studies mostly dealt with work maintenance and revealed a key role of cognitive difficulties, psychological personal factors (e.g., adequate coping strategies) and environmental factors (e.g., flexible work schedules, supportive colleagues).

Conclusions

The factors identified in our review should receive particular attention in vocational integration and job retention programs to support work participation of people with ABI in the long term. There is a need for measures that regularly monitor and promote a good match between individuals and their work environment.

Implications for Rehabilitation

• People with acquired brain injury (ABI) often have long-lasting and invisible injury-related difficulties that hamper their labour market participation.

• Factors identified as positively associated with working in the long term, such as coping strategies and self-awareness, should be strengthened.

• Future interventions should educate affected persons, employers and health care professionals about long-lasting injury-related difficulties and promote a supportive work environment for people with ABI.

• Prolonged availability of vocational services could be beneficial for supporting work maintenance of people with ABI.

Keywords:

• Working in the long term
• sustained work
• work stability
• acquired brain injury
• ABI

Acknowledgments

The authors thank Marcel Post for reading and consulting the manuscript and Wolfgang Segerer for a technical support.

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest.

Additional information

Funding

The present study was conducted as part of a PhD thesis and supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) under grant no. 10531 C_173322.