| Citation: |
Walker, W.C., Marwitz, J.H., Kreutzer, J.S., Hart, T., & Novack, T.A. (2006). Occupational categories and return to work after traumatic brain injury: A multicenter study.
Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 87
(12),
1576-1582.
|
| Title: |
Occupational categories and return to work after traumatic brain injury: A multicenter study |
| Authors: |
Walker, W.C., Marwitz, J.H., Kreutzer, J.S., Hart, T., & Novack, T.A. |
| Year: |
2006 |
|
Journal/Publication:
|
Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation |
| Publisher: |
American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine and the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation |
| DOI: |
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apmr.2006.08.335
|
| Full text: |
http://proxy.library.vcu.edu/login?url=http://ac.els-cdn.com/S00039...
|
| Peer-reviewed? |
Yes
|
| NIDILRR-funded? |
Yes
|
|
Research design:
|
Survey research
|
| Background: |
Return to work (RTW) for traumatic brain injury (TBI) survivors signifies an important milestone in returning to full integration into society. It is known that various demographic and injury related categories play a role in RTW after TBI. Conflicting evidence exists on occupational category and RTW after TBI. |
|
Purpose:
|
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the link between pre-injury occupational category and RTW outcome after TBI. |
|
Study sample: |
The sample consisted of 1341 patients aged between 18-62 years. All participants had a TBI and had some sort of employment history prior to the injury. Most of the sample was male (77%) and white (69%). |
|
Control or comparison condition:
|
Employment at one year post injury was the comparison condition. |
|
Data collection and analysis:
|
Data was collected on each participant at the initial time of inpatient admission and entered into a database. Data was again collected at about 12 months post injury. Chi square and ANOVA tests were used to determine pre injury occupational groups. Regression analyses were used to predict RTW at one year post injury. |
|
Findings:
|
RTW was greatest among participants in professional/managerial positions (56%), lower for skilled positions (40%), and lowest for manual labor (32%). Pre injury occupation, education level, age, sex, marital status, and length of hospital stay all influenced RTW outcomes. |
|
Conclusions:
|
This study underscores the importance of pre injury occupation on RTW in individuals with TBI. |
