Are rehabilitation programmes enabling clients to return to work? Return to work perspectives of individuals with mild to moderate brain injury in South Africa.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the perceptions and experiences of individuals with brain injury with regard to return to work rehabilitation programmes. PARTICIPANTS: Nine males and one female who were diagnosed with a moderate to mild brain injury participated in the study. METHODS: In-depth interviews were conducted and data were analyzed using a qualitative approach to explicate patterns and themes. RESULTS: Two themes emerged that reflected the lived experiences of individuals with brain injury regarding intervention programmes that influenced their ability to return to work after the brain injury: 1) Enablers of return to work programmes, 2) Barriers related to return to work programmes. CONCLUSIONS: Occupational therapy practitioners as well as rehabilitation personnel should identify and eliminate the barriers that impact on return to work intervention programmes, incorporate the enablers identified in this study when designing return to work programmes.

Individuals with traumatic brain injuries perceptions and experiences of returning to work in South Africa.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to identify the central concepts of a model that would facilitate the return to work process of individuals with brain injury. However for the purpose of this paper there will be a focus only on the barriers and facilitators that influence the return to work process. PARTICIPANTS: Ten individuals who were diagnosed with a mild to moderate brain injury participated in this study. METHODS: Qualitative research methods were used in order to explore the research question. The participants were selected by means of purposive sampling and the data was collected by means of in depth interviews. RESULTS: The results of the study revealed that the participants experienced a sense of loss of function after the brain injury, a fear of the future and loss of confidence in their worker roles. The participants also indicated that by means of adapting occupational routines an actively engaging in rehabilitation they developed confidence in their worker roles. CONCLUSION: Occupational therapists have to use a client centred holistic work integrative approach in order to successfully rehabilitate as well as facilitate the return to work process with people who have suffered a traumatic brain injury.