Supporting work after stress-related ill health, spinal cord injury, and stroke (Symposium)

Summary of the Symposium: Findings from 3 research projects will be presented as triggers for symposium. Topics about return to work after stress-related ill health, spinal cord injury, and stroke will be explored from... [ view full abstract ]

Summary of the Symposium:
Findings from 3 research projects will be presented as triggers for symposium. Topics about return to work after stress-related ill health, spinal cord injury, and stroke will be explored from multiple perspectives.

Precise timetable:
Introduction (5 min)
Conceptual foundations (10 min)
Three papers (30 min)
Relevance OT/OS (10)
Panel discussion with audience engagement (25 min)
Summary (10 min)

Background:
Persons with stress-related ill health, spinal cord injury (SCI), or stroke can greatly benefit from innovations in vocational rehabilitation practices aimed at supporting return to work (RTW). The concept of RTW will be operationally defined and discussed broadly.

Method:
Qualitative interviewing, participant observations, photovoice, and a feasibility intervention design with clinical outcome measures were used; analyses include qualitative and quantitative approaches.

Results:
RTW requires coordinated and structured support including several stakeholders and the person in focus. Competencies among health professionals as well as employers with continuous reflexivity are vital in order to create sustainable work environments for persons with disabilities.

Conclusion:
Today there are few guidelines providing evidence-based RTW rehabilitation, yet research suggests that supporting vocational reintegration is of utmost importance for these groups.

Application to Practice:
Systematic reviews, experiences from the clinic, and feasibility studies can provide concrete illustrations to understand work in an occupational context and provide guidelines and/or tools for occupational therapists to utilize in practice.

References and financial support reported for each abstract