Professional reintegration among professionally active Portuguese stroke survivors: a multicentric study

Abstract

Purpose

To assess professional reintegration, the perceived impact of stroke on work, and the main determinants of return to work (RTW) among stroke survivors.

Materials and methods

A cross-sectional study was performed, based on a cohort of stroke survivors. A structured questionnaire was administered to previously working stroke survivors, 18–24 months post-stroke. Data on sociodemographic characteristics, stroke features and their impact on work, access to rehabilitation services during hospital admission and after discharge, social support, and professional reintegration were reported by 553 stroke survivors.

Results

On average, 56.6% (95% CI 52.4–60.8) of stroke survivors resumed professional activity, 20 months after stroke. Approximately 90% of survivors who RTW, returned to the same job and same function they performed before stroke. The majority did not receive reintegration support. The main determinants of RTW were lower age, higher socioeconomic status, and better functional status.

Conclusions

Professional reintegration and vocational support after stroke, remained below the international goals for community reintegration of stroke survivors. Future studies should explore the impact of professional and social reintegration on the psychological health and quality of life of stroke survivors and the barriers, challenges, and strategies used to overcome them, to allow for effective professional reintegration policies.

IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATION

• The amount of professionally active people affected by stroke events is rising worldwide, with increasing numbers of survivors with restricted occupational participation.

• Higher age and lower socioeconomic status appear to be main determinants for no return to work and so, a special attention should be given to this particular group of stroke survivors.

• Vocational and social support after stroke is highly needed to help in the reintegration of a professionally active life.

• Social and community support after stroke should be offered as soon as possible after stroke to promote a successful professional reintegration.

Keywords:

• Professional reintegration
• return to work
• stroke
• survivors
• rehabilitation

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by national funding from the Foundation for Science and Technology—FCT (Portuguese Ministry of Science, Technology and Higher Education), by the Regional Development Fund (ERDF), European Social Fund (ESF), Portugal 2020 and European Structural and Investment Funds, through the Regional Operational Programme Norte (Norte 2020), under the project POCI-01-0145-FEDER-031898; by the Operational Programme Competitiveness and Internationalization (COMPETE 2020), Portugal 2020, European Regional Development Fund, under the Unidade de Investigação em Epidemiologia - Instituto de Saúde Pública da Universidade do Porto (EPIUnit) (POCI-01-045-FEDER-016867; Ref. FCT UID/DTP/04750/2019); by the PhD grant 2020.07312.BD (to AM) and by the grant SFRH/BPD/103562/2014 (to EA), co-funded by the FCT and the POPH/FSE. It is also acknowledged a Scientific Employment Stimulus contracts (CEECIND/01793/2017) to AH.

Disclosure statement

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