Factors associated with sustaining work after an acquired brain injury: a scoping review

Abstract

Maintaining work in the long term represents a major challenge for people with acquired brain injury (ABI) as evidenced by a high rate of premature labour market dropouts. The present study aimed to compile factors associated with working in the long term after sustaining an ABI. Materials and methods: We carried out a scoping review synthesizing quantitative and qualitative research conducted between 2000 and 2021. Databases searched comprised PubMed, CINAHL Complete, PsycINFO, Scopus, and Web of Science. Results: Ten quantitative and nine qualitative studies were included, all but one from high-resource countries. Quantitative research predominantly comprised longitudinal follow-ups on individuals' work status several years post ABI onset, showing an effect of injury-related and sociodemographic factors. Qualitative studies mostly dealt with work maintenance and revealed a key role of cognitive difficulties, psychological personal factors (e.g. adequate coping strategies) and environmental factors (e.g. flexible work schedules, supportive colleagues). Conclusions:The factors identified in our review should receive particular attention in vocational integration and job retention programs to support work participation of people with ABI in the long term. There is a need for measures that regularly monitor and promote a good match between individuals and their work environment.

Factors related to sustainable employment of people with acquired brain injury or spinal cord injury: The employer's perspective

“…The aspects raised by the employers interviewed in connection with sustainable employment largely coincide with the findings of existing international studies that look at the period of vocational rehabilitation or working with ABI or SCI in general (21,22). In addition, these studies also found that many aspects that our study identified as important for a sustainable work ability are initiated and established during the vocational reintegration phase.…”

Facilitators and Barriers to Sustainable Employment After Spinal Cord Injury or Acquired Brain Injury: The Person's Perspective

“…They also overlap with key determinants of a successful RTW (31)(32)(33)(34)(35)(36)(37), indicating that some of the factors that are important for RTW remain significant in the long run. For example, being understood and supported by others at work and in private life is important for both RTW and sustaining employment as found by previous research (6,7). However, as shown in our study and previously reported, support at the workplace tends to diminish over time 1 .…”

“…Sustaining work reflects a major challenge for people with a disability, as evidenced by premature withdrawals from the labor market and a significantly decreasing employment rate over the life course (1)(2)(3). While return to work (RTW) is a primary goal of vocational integration services, many affected persons face problems in maintaining their jobs after initial RTW and tend to drop out from the labor market in the long run (3)(4)(5)(6)(7). By contrast to the predictors of a successful RTW, factors that determine labor market dropouts and a sustainable employment over time are hardly investigated in the literature.…”

“…For individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) and persons with acquired brain injury (ABI), achieving a sustainable employment after RTW is particularly challenging (6,7,11). While SCI impairs the spine and ABI the brain, both conditions strongly limit functional abilities that are critical in today's labor market: mobility, cognitive functioning, work and social life (12)(13)(14).…”

“…The employment rate of people with SCI is with 61% about 20% points lower compared to the general population ( 20 , 21 ). Statistical data on the employment situation of persons with ABI living in Switzerland is currently lacking but, as previously shown, sustaining work after the onset of an SCI or ABI represents a major challenge for those affected ( 6 , 7 , 11 ). In addition, Swiss patient organizations for people with SCI and ABI report a substantial number of enquiries from individuals who face problems in maintaining their jobs.…”