School of Psychological Sciences, Turner Institute for Brain and Mental Health, Monash University, Clayton, Australia.
Monash-Epworth Rehabilitation Research Centre, Richmond, Australia.
Disabil Rehabil. 2022 Dec;44(24):7428-7438. doi: 10.1080/09638288.2021.1992516. Epub 2021 Oct 24.
To extend the authors' previous research by investigating the maintenance of work performance over time and the long-term experience of employment following traumatic brain injury (TBI).
Semi-structured interviews were conducted with a sample of 72 individuals with predominantly severe TBI, up to 10-years post-injury. Thematic analysis of transcribed interviews was conducted.
Four key themes were identified: brain injury influences on work performance and long-term employment; factors optimising long-term employment; and need for compromise and acceptance, which all impacted the final theme, quality of life outcome. While TBI-related difficulties such as fatigue, cognitive, and emotional difficulties still impacted work many years post-injury, work modifications and employer and vocational rehabilitation (VR) support were important factors optimising long-term employment. The timing of return to work (RTW) was also an important and potentially modifiable factor influencing work performance, which appeared to have long-term effects on the maintenance of employment. Support for acceptance of altered career goals is needed.
Findings support the need for early VR to facilitate employer contact, to maximise adjustment and preparation time before RTW, to educate both employees and employers and to implement work modifications to support continuing employment after TBI.Implications for rehabilitationThe maintenance of employment following TBI is of critical importance for financial independence, psychological and social well-being, and improved quality of life.Injury-related difficulties still impact work performance many years after injury requiring individuals with TBI to continue working in modified roles and for reduced hours over the long-term.Ongoing VR and employer support is needed to facilitate long-term work modifications and compensatory strategies to support work performance.Early VR involvement to facilitate employer contact and maximise adjustment and preparation time before returning to work is necessary to avoid the negative and potentially dire consequences of returning too early.Psychological support to facilitate acceptance of role changes and career compromises is also important.
通过研究创伤性脑损伤(TBI)后随时间推移工作绩效的维持和长期就业经历,扩展作者先前的研究。
对 72 名主要患有严重 TBI 的个体进行了半结构化访谈,随访时间最长达 10 年。对转录访谈进行了主题分析。
确定了四个关键主题:脑损伤对工作绩效和长期就业的影响;优化长期就业的因素;妥协和接受的必要性,所有这些都影响了最终的主题,即生活质量结果。虽然 TBI 相关的困难,如疲劳、认知和情绪困难,在受伤多年后仍然影响工作,但工作调整、雇主和职业康复(VR)支持是优化长期就业的重要因素。重返工作岗位(RTW)的时间也是影响工作绩效的一个重要且潜在可改变的因素,这似乎对维持就业有长期影响。需要支持接受改变后的职业目标。
研究结果支持早期 VR 的必要性,以促进雇主接触,最大限度地调整和准备 RTW 前的时间,教育员工和雇主,并实施工作调整,以支持 TBI 后继续就业。
TBI 后维持就业对财务独立、心理和社会福祉以及提高生活质量至关重要。受伤相关的困难在受伤多年后仍然影响工作绩效,需要 TBI 患者继续以修改后的角色和长期减少工作时间工作。需要持续的 VR 和雇主支持,以促进长期工作调整和补偿策略,以支持工作绩效。早期 VR 参与以促进雇主接触并最大限度地调整和准备 RTW 前的时间,以避免过早返回的负面影响和潜在的可怕后果。促进接受角色变化和职业妥协的心理支持也很重要。