Can targeted job-information for adults with spinal cord dysfunction be effectively delivered online? A pilot study

Abstract

Objective: To pilot a novel email-based information package (Work and SCI) for job-seekers with an acquired spinal cord injury (SCI) or spinal cord dysfunction (SCI/D).

Study design: Prospective, non-randomized, repeated measures trial.

Setting: Community dwelling cohort in Australia.

Participants: Five people with SCI (mean age 46.4 years, SD = 10.2; 4 female) initially reviewed Work and SCI. Twenty-four with SCI/D subsequently enrolled, of whom 16 (mean age 46.4 years, SD = 11.1; 7 female), completed the intervention.

Intervention: Intervention participants accessed Work and SCI over a 4-week period.

Outcome measures: Individual changes in pre-post scores for the My Vocational Situation Scale, Job Procurement Self-Efficacy Scale, Patient Health Questionnaire-9 and Life Orientation Test-Revised were examined.

Results: Reliable change in pre-post scores across outcomes were reported by 38% (n = 6) of participants. Favorable comments on the Work and SCI resource were provided in addition to suggestions for improvement.

Conclusions: Preliminary data suggest that Work and SCI may help to establish vocational interests among job-seekers with a SCI/D, however further work is needed to enhance participant compliance. This might include moderator support to promote and maintain participation. A controlled design will also help to identify factors that influence engagement with the Work and SCI resource.

Keywords:

• Spinal cord injury
• Employment
• Unemployment
• Return-to-work

Acknowledgements

The authors are very grateful for the cooperation of all participants and to the organizations that assisted with recruitment. Special thanks go to Vicky Machen and Graham O'Neil of the Paraplegic and Quadriplegic Association of South Australia (PQSA) for their assistance with the development of Work and SCI. We also wish to acknowledge Dr Stuart Howell, Senior Statistician, from the School of Public Health at the University of Adelaide.

Disclaimer statements

Contributors None.

Conflicts of interest P. Stewart (CEO) and S. Neeson (Manager, Support Services) are employed by PQSA, a participating organization in this project.

Funding This project was supported by a grant from the Lifetime Support Authority of South Australia (LSA-D000653).

Trial registration This project is registered on the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (no. ACTRN12616000812493).

ORCID

Diana Dorstyn http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7799-8177

Rachel Roberts http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9547-9995

Ian Kneebone http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3324-7264

Ashley Craig http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7647-7604

Anna Chur-Hansen http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2935-2689

Christine Migliorini http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2228-9947

Elizabeth Potter http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1019-6233