Vocational outcome 6–15 years after a traumatic brain injury

Abstract

Primary objective: To describe vocational outcome 6–15 years after a traumatic brain injury (TBI) among individuals who were productive by working or studying at the time of their TBI and determine the associations with variables related to the time of injury and at follow-up.

Methods and procedures: Thirty-four individuals with a mild TBI and 45 with a moderate-to-severe TBI were assessed on average 10 years post-injury. Logistic regression was used to determine the association between their current vocational situation and variables related to the time of injury (gender, age, injury severity and educational level) and at follow-up (time since injury, marital status and overall disability).

Results: A total of 67% were productive at follow-up. Age at injury, injury severity and the degree of disability at follow-up were strongly associated with being productive. Younger individuals with milder TBI and less severe disability were significantly more likely to be fully productive. No significant associations were found between productivity and gender, education, time since injury or marital status.

Conclusions: This study indicates that return to productivity in a long-term perspective after a TBI is possible, in particular when the individual is young, has sustained a mild TBI and has a milder form of overall disability.

Keywords:

• Brain injuries
• employment
• long-term outcome
• occupations
• rehabilitation
• vocational

Acknowledgements

We thank all the participants for allowing us to interview them and sharing their experiences.

Declaration on interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest. This work was supported by a research grant from Norrbotten County Council.