Evaluation of the implementation of the protocol of an early vocational rehabilitation intervention for people with acquired brain injury

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate (1) the feasibility of an early vocational rehabilitation (EVR) protocol in the standard rehabilitation process, (2) promoting factors and barriers encountered with the EVR protocol, and (3) perceived effectiveness of the protocol in facilitating return to work (RTW) following acquired brain injury (ABI). Method: A pre- and post-process evaluation was performed in a Dutch rehabilitation center. Dependent variables were feasibility (defined by the usability on process level and fulfillment of usability expectations), promoting factors and barriers, and perceived effectiveness of the protocol. Usability (defined by 13 performance and timing goals) was evaluated with existing forms and registrations. Fulfillment of usability expectations, perceived promoting factors and barriers, and perceived effectiveness were investigated with questionnaires. Data of 23 patients were available for process evaluation. Nine rehabilitation professionals, 10 patients with ABI, nine employers, and six occupational physicians completed the questionnaires. Results: Two-thirds of the performance goals and one-fourth of the timing goals were reached. All respondents cited the structured protocol as a promoting factor. Thirty-two of the thirty-four participants perceived the protocol as being suitable facilitating RTW after ABI. Conclusions: The EVR protocol provides a structured strategy to focus on RTW during standard rehabilitation. It is now possible to implement and test the protocol in other rehabilitation settings.

Implications for Rehabilitation

• The early vocational rehabilitation (EVR) facilitates an interdisciplinary and systematic focus on return to work during rehabilitation of people with acquired brain injury.

• The feasibility of the EVR protocol has been tested.

• The EVR protocol is ready for implementation and wider testing in other rehabilitation settings.

• Acquired brain injury
• intervention
• stroke
• traumatic brain injury
• vocational

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the rehabilitation professionals, patients, employers, and occupational physicians for their participation. We would also like to thank the vocational rehabilitation specialists for their assistance during data collection. Finally, we would like to thank the staff of Vilans, a center of expertise for long-term care, for their assistance during the development of the Early Vocational Rehabilitation protocol.

Declaration of interest

The authors report that they have no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper. No funding has been received for performing the study.