Year: 1999
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: This study examined the factors influencing patient return to work following traumatic brain injury.The employment status of 28 applicants to the Pennsylvania Head Injury Program were selected from a group of 300 survivors of brain injury.Of those selected, all patients were employed at the time of injury yet only 14 out of 300 PHIP members secured a competitive employment following injury.Initial analyses revealed that demographic and social factors such as age, education, premorbid behavioral problems, psychiatric history, and substance abuse were not predictive of maintaining competitive employment following injury.However, analysis of variance revealed main effects at the two extremes of a mild to severe range for injury severity variables such as GCS score and duration of loss of consciousness.The duration of time maintaining competitive employment was significantly shorter for patients with GCS scores, F(2) = 6.60; p < .01,and short and long lengths of loss of consciousness, F(2) = 3.79; p < .05, in the "mild" and "severe" ranges when compared to those with "moderately" severe brain injuries.These findings indicate that, at the two extremes of a mild to severe range, the debilitating effects of mild or severe brain injuries may create significant difficulties in maintaining long-term employment.In addition, the subtle cognitive deficits associated with mild traumatic brain injury may prove disruptive to the patient who attempts to return to the same or similar vocational position.These patients may have difficulty enduring the same stressors or carry out the same routines at work, yet they may desire to return to their premorbid lifestyle.Other findings suggest that women participating in supported employment or volunteer work maintained longer periods of competitive employment when compared to men, F(2) = 10.57;p < .01.Although all employed participants secured lower paying/status positions following injury, the data revealed that managerial/ professional positions were associated with the longest continual periods of employment, F(3) = 11.52;p < .01.These findings indicate that those suffering from mild TBI or "postconcussion syndrome" were less likely to maintain competitive employment when compared to patients sustaining moderately severe brain injuries.Additionally, participating in supportive employment, part-time employment, or volunteer work prior to securing a competitive employment position predicted the longest periods of competitive employment.This last finding was especially true for female TBI survivors.
Authors: F.G. Hillary, S. Miin, S. Moelter, D.L. Chute
Language: English
Subfield: Epidemiology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W1998159674