The Comprehensive Intervention for Prevocational Programming: An Occupational Therapy Based Approach to Facilitate Return to Work Post Brain Injury

Abstract

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is a significant public health concern that affects an estimated 5.3 million Americans. Approximately, 1 out of every 60 individuals experience a disability related to TBI, thus highlighting the significant burden on the affected population (ASBMB, 2021). A study conducted by Sharma et. al, stated that only 40.8% of individuals were able to return to employment after two years of experiencing BI, while a significant proportion of 20% remained unable to resume work due to the secondary deficits of their BI (2022). Evidence indicates that return-to-work (RTW) rates among individuals diagnosed with BI are significantly lower due to physical and cognitive deficits. The presence of unemployment, especially among the BI population can result reduced opportunities for community engagement, a loss of sense of purpose or identity, and a notable decline in overall quality of life (QoL). Occupational therapy (OT) is critical in the development of employability skills necessary for successful community reintegration including RTW. Despite this connection, there is no training module for professionals to refer to when delivering prevocational services to individuals with BI. In the attempt to bridge this gap, the Comprehensive Intervention for Prevocational Programming (CIPP) was developed and implemented. The CIPP represents an OT centered approach designed to facilitate the RTW process following a brain injury (BI). The primary goal of CIPP is to provide professionals with education on the prevocational process, enabling successful RTW. This intervention is structured around four modules, each serving distinct purposes: introduction to prevocational services, examination of BI's impact on RTW, outlining covered services, and defining the Occupational Therapy Practitioner's (OTP) role within the prevocational sector. Results of the study provided clinical evidence supporting the effectiveness of the CIPP as an impactful tool in educating professionals on the delivery of pre-employment services and further defining the role of the OTP in this domain.