Article

PRIMARY OBJECTIVE: To investigate how many people return to work (RTW) after
acquiring brain injury (ABI) due to traumatic or non-traumatic causes. Secondary
objectives were to investigate the differences in outcome between traumatic and
non-traumatic causes, the development of RTW over time and whether or not people
return to their former job. METHODS: A systematic literature search (1992-2008)
was performed using terms of ABI and RTW. The methodological quality of the
studies was determined. An overall estimation of percentage RTW 1 and 2 years
post-injury was calculated by data pooling.
RESULTS: Finally,
49 studies were included. Within 2 years post-injury, 39.3% of the subjects with
non-traumatic ABI returned to work. Among people with traumatic ABI, 40.7%
returned to work after 1 year and 40.8% after 2 years. No effect of cause or time
since injury was found. Some people with traumatic ABI who returned to work were
not able to sustain their job over time. Changes of occupation and job demands
are common among people with ABI. CONCLUSIONS: About 40% of the people with
traumatic or non-traumatic ABI are able to return to work
after 1 or 2 years.
Among those with acquired traumatic brain injury a substantial proportion of the
subjects were either not able to return to their former work or unable to return permanently.

Langue : ANGLAIS

Tiré à part : OUI