Difficulties with multitasking on return to work after TBI: A critical case study

Issue title: Participation in Work in Australia

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Bootes, Kylie | Chapparo, Christine

Affiliations: Discipline of Occupational Therapy, The University of Sydney, Lidcombe, NSW, Australia

Note: [] Address for correspondence: Christine Chapparo, Discipline of Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Sydney, P.O. Box 170, Lidcombe, NSW 1825, Australia. Tel.: +61 2 9351 9206; Fax: +61 2 9351 9197; E-mail: c.chapparo@usyd.edu.au

Abstract: Work performance research highlights that psychometric cognitive measures and cognitive component information processing measures are strong predictors of success in multitasking work environments [14]. People with a mild to moderate traumatic brain injury (TBI) returning to a job requiring multitasking, may have difficulty succeeding despite pre-morbid equivalent cognitive scores. A critical case study is presented to begin to determine what aspects of information processing contribute to difficulties in multitasking work performance, for people with a TBI. The Perceive Recall Plan and Perform (PRPP) System of Task Analysis: Workplace Interview (i.e. PRPP@WORK) is used with the employer to obtain information processing scores. Results indicate substantial information processing deficits were perceived by the employer for the employee with a TBI. Future larger studies of people with a TBI who return to work that requires multitasking are needed to more clearly indicate: the level of multitasking they perform; what aspects of information processing hinder their work performance; the impact on performance of perceived cognitive load by the person with a TBI and the type and impact of support provided to improve their work performance.

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-2010-1021

Journal: Work, vol. 36, no. 2, pp. 207-216, 2010