Work-related difficulties in patients with traumatic brain injury: a systematic review on predictors and associated factors

Abstract

Evidence on the effect of rehabilitation interventions on TBI patients' work-related difficulties exists, but is poorly measured. Future studies should address the sustainability of holistic and tailored interventions targeting employees, employers and workplaces and aimed to reduce the gap between work duties and worker's abilities, using appropriate assessment instruments measuring difficulties in work activities. Implications for rehabilitation Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) primarily affects young persons of working age causing a broad range of motor, sensory and cognitive impairments. A combination of variables related both to pre-morbid and to injury-related factors predict and are associated to work-related difficulties. While demographic and injury characteristics cannot be modified, some TBI outcomes (e.g. cognitive impairments or functional status) may be addressed by specific rehabilitative interventions: the knowledge of the specific work-related difficulties of TBI patients is of importance to tailor rehabilitation programs that maximize vocational outcomes. Rehabilitation researchers should give attention to vocational issues and use assessment instruments addressing the difficulties in work-related activities, in order to demonstrate the benefits of rehabilitative interventions on TBI patients' ability to work.

On the treatment of persons with disabilities in organizations: A review and research agenda

“…We encourage researchers to take advantage of research and literature reviews on the experiences of persons with disabilities from other domains, beyond the scope of treatment in work organizations, to guide future research on treatment in the workplace. For example, insights can be found regarding severity (e.g., Prince, ; Slatore, Harber, & Haggerty, ), chronicity (e.g., Crook, Milner, Schultz, & Stringer, ; Pincus, Burton, Vogel, & Field, ), and use of longitudinal data (e.g., Jahoda, Kemp, Riddell, & Banks, ; Scaratti et al, ). We also encourage researchers to explicitly acknowledge these complexities head‐on by clearly stating definitions and operationalization, and to note limits of the generalizability of their findings.…”

What characterises work and workplaces that retain their employees following acquired brain injury? Systematic review

“…It is highly notable that the vast majority of research on work retention after ABI almost solely relies on individual and medical factors,13–22 while we have access to very little sound evidence regarding the specific workplace factors involved.…”

“…Most studies investigating work retention after ABI include only individual factors 13–22. Well-established individual factors related to increased work retention are lower injury severity, higher education and male gender.…”

Traumatic brain injury caused by work accidents: How can occupational and vocational recovery be achieved?

“…Regarding work reintegration, the literature includes studies that lead to the identification of factors that facilitate or hinder return to work and reintegration into the social environment, such as the severity of trauma (Glasgow Coma Scale; GCS), duration of hospitalization, sex, employment prior to the traumatic event, level of education, and the timeliness and intensity of the intervention (28)(29)(30)(31)(32)(33)(34)(35). IMoVR aims to create timely and intensive intervention, from the hospital to the reintegration phase.…”