The experiences of women with traumatic brain injury about the barriers and facilitators experienced after vocational rehabilitation in the Western Cape Metropole, South Africa

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Soeker, Mogammad Shaheed^{; *} | Darries, Zareena

Affiliations: Occupational Therapy Department, University of the Western Cape, South Africa

Correspondence: [*] Address for correspondence: Mogammad Shaheed Soeker, Occupational Therapy Department, University of the Western Cape, South Africa. Tel.: +27 (0) 21 959 9339; Fax: +27 (0) 21 959 1259; E-mail: msoeker@uwc.ac.za.

Abstract: BACKGROUND:Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is a serious global public health problem. Globally and annually, at least 10 million individuals live with TBI that is serious enough to result in death or hospitalisation OBJECTIVE:This study aimed to explore and describe the experiences of women with traumatic brain injury, in their work environments utilising the Model of Occupational Self-efficacy as a vocational rehabilitation approach METHOD:Ten females with mild to moderate traumatic brain injury participated in the study. Semi-structured interviews were conducted and data were analysed utilising a qualitative approach to elucidate themes. Semi-structured interviews were also conducted with two occupational therapists who served as key informants. RESULTS:Two themes emerged depicting the participants’ experiences and perceptions of barriers and facilitators which influenced their return to work: (1) Barriers to work participation for women with TBI, 2) Re-establishing a worker identity by means of vocational rehabilitation. CONCLUSION:Both personal and environmental factors emerged as hindrances to returning to work for women with traumatic brain injury. Vocational rehabilitation proved successful in establishing a worker identity amongst participants; however, particular focus should be placed on the function-dysfunction continuum of the process of work place integration to further develop and enhance sustainable return to work programmes for women with traumatic brain injury.

Keywords: Return to work, therapeutic use of self, self-efficacy

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-193009

Journal: Work, vol. 64, no. 3, pp. 477-486, 2019