Are rehabilitation programmes enabling clients to return to work?
Return to work perspectives of individuals with mild to moderate brain injury
in South Africa
Affiliations: Department of Occupational Therapy, University of the
Western Cape, Belville, South Africa
Note: [] Address for correspondence: Mogammad Shaheed Soeker, Ph.D.,
Department of Occupational Therapy, University of the Western Cape, Private Bag
X17, Belville, 7535, South Africa. Tel.: +27 021 959 9339; Fax: +27 021 959
1259; E-mail: msoeker@uwc.ac.za
Abstract: 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.
