Journal
DISABILITY AND REHABILITATION
Volume 40, Issue 15, Pages 1745-1753Publisher
TAYLOR & FRANCIS LTD
DOI: 10.1080/09638288.2017.1312566
Keywords
Employment; return to work; systematic review; spinal cord injury
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Purpose: This review sought to answer the question What are the barriers and facilitators influencing people's experience of return to work following spinal cord injury? Methods: Studies that met the selection criteria were identified, presented and critically appraised using National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines. Thematic synthesis was completed with studies possessing strong methodological rigor. Synthesis and interpretation involved three stages; coding of primary data; development of descriptive themes reflective of the primary data; and establishment of analytical themes to answer the review question. Results: Data from nine papers were included in the thematic synthesis. Several descriptive themes and three analytical themes were drawn from the data to answer the research question. Analytical themes included: a matrix of personal and environmental factors exists requiring complex navigation in order to create possibilities and opportunities for postinjury employment; the process of seeking or gaining employment shares a reciprocal relationship with the temporal nature of adjustment to spinal cord injury; and there is an intrinsic need for occupational engagement through paid employment. Conclusions: Returning to or gaining employment after spinal cord injury is a fundamentally difficult experience for people. Multiple strategies are required to support the navigation of the process. There is, however, a need in people with spinal cord injury, to be a worker, and with that comes the inherent benefits of being employed.
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