Is the Vocational Intervention Program (VIP) effective at enhancing return to work following severe acquired brain injury (ABI)?

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Acquired brain injury; Neurological - Other neurological disorders

• Registration Number: ACTRN12622000769785
• Lead Sponsor: Agency for Clinical Innovation (ACI)

Brief Summary

Research Questions: (1) Does the VIP improve return to work outcomes in people with sABI? (2) Does the effectiveness of the VIP differ according to whether it is delivered by general VR providers compared with a specialist VR unit? Background information: The VIP implementation study is a multi-centre, three-arm, non-randomized controlled trial – the VIP was delivered to participants by local VR providers partnered with local BIRP sites (VIP-VR), by a specialist VR unit as part of a direct service model (VIP-DS), or participants were treatment-as-usual controls that did not participate in the VIP (TAU). Competitive employment status (yes/no) was recorded at three timepoints – baseline (upon enrolment in VIP), upon completion of VIP, and 3 months following completion of VIP. Participant characteristics: A total of 149 people with sABI participated in the trial (VIP-VR, n=75; VIP-DS, n=33; TAU, n=40), of which 65 (60%) completed the VIP. The sample was overwhelmingly male (82%), predominantly young-to-middle aged, and most had attained high school education or higher. The VIP-VR and VIP-DS arms had a median of 1 year more education than TAU. The VIP-DS arm sustained their injuries more recently than the VIP-VR and TAU arms. Key results: The final model indicated that the VIP-VR (8%) and VIP-DS arms (6%) were less likely to be employed than TAU (38%) at baseline (p<.001). However, the VIP-VR (61%) and VIP-DS groups (77%) demonstrated significantly higher rates of return-to

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Results First Posted: 1900-01-01
• Study Completion: 2018-09-05
• Study Start: 2022-05-30
• Last Update Posted: 6 June 2022

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: Completed
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 148

Inclusion Criteria

A. Diagnosis (all participants)
•Primary diagnosis of severe ABI:
oSevere to extremely severe TBI (PTA duration > 24 hours); or
oSevere non-traumatic (acquired) brain injury (e.g., resulting from an injury to the brain following a medical event such as stroke, brain infection, loss of oxygen from heart attack or drowning)

B. Currently engaged with the referring BIRP in a rehabilitation program (all participants)

C. Employment circumstances (VIP-VR and VIP-DS only)
•Fast-Track participants:
oEmployed at time of injury
oHas indicated a willingness to return to work (RTW) with pre-injury employer
oPre-injury employer able to provide a graded RTW program (Fast-Track pathway)
•New-Track participants:
oNo currently identified employer or marketable skills to secure paid work
oHas an active rehabilitation goal to participate in employment
oAgreeable to undertake an unpaid work training placement for up to 12 weeks

D. Readiness for RTW (VIP-VR and VIP-DS only)
•Accommodation is stable and enables the client to reliably engage in community activities
•Sufficient cognitive capacity to apply new information in everyday situations, or the ability to learn to do this, such that the level of support can be reduced over time
•Attends to personal care needs in a community setting either independently or with support
•Mobilizes independently in the community and workplace with or without aids
•Shows appropriate behaviour (or behaviour can be managed) within a workplace or training environment

Exclusion Criteria

All participants:
•Requires significant support in the community that makes them unsuitable for mainstream work settings (e.g., 24 hours supervision/physical assistance)
•Current alcohol or substance use disorder that could compromise program engagement

Additional criteria for New-Track participants:
•Does not have capacity or not amenable to attend a work training placement at least 8 hours per week and potential to work towards paid work at completion of the program (may utilise supported wage system, wage subsidies etc.)
•Has a vocational goal and marketable skills suitable for obtaining new employment without VIP services
•Requires formal qualifications/certificates to secure new employment

Study & Design

• Study Type: Interventional
• Study Design: Not specified