Affiliations: Occupational Therapy Department, Kowloon Hospital,
Hospital Authority, Hong Kong, China | Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong
Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China
Note: [] Address for correspondence: Dr. David Man, Associate Professor,
Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University,
Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China. Tel.: +852 2766 6711; Fax: +852 2330 8656;
E-mail: rsdavid@polyu.edu.hk
Abstract: The rate of employment for people with spinal cord injuries is
relatively low, especially among Asians. To help individuals with spinal cord
injuries return to work or retain employment, rehabilitation professionals must
understand the barriers to employment and intervene to reduce or remove them.
Hence, a focus group study was administered to 16 people with spinal cord
injuries to explore return to work barriers. Various ideas, beliefs, responses,
and values at different stages of work resettlement were elicited from both
employed and unemployed participants, and then summarized. According to the
results, several modifications of existing forms of rehabilitation intervention
are necessary, as are further research directions.
Keywords: Return to work, barriers, spinal cord injury, focus group
