Racial differences in employment outcomes after traumatic brain injury.
OBJECTIVE
To examine racial differences in employment status and occupational status 1 year after a traumatic brain injury (TBI).


METHODS
Retrospective study.


METHODS
Longitudinal dataset of the Traumatic Brain Injury Model Systems national database.


METHODS
Subjects with primarily moderate to severe TBI (3468 whites vs 1791 minorities) hospitalized between 1989 and 2005.


METHODS
Not applicable.


METHODS
Employment status (competitively employed or unemployed) and occupational status (professional/managerial, skilled, or manual labor) at 1 year postinjury.


RESULTS
Race and/or ethnicity has a significant effect on employment status at 1 year postinjury (chi(1)(2)=58.23, P<.001), after adjusting for preinjury employment status, sex, Disability Rating Scale at discharge, marital status, cause of injury, age, and education. The adjusted odds of being unemployed versus competitively employed are 2.17 times (95% confidence interval, 1.78-2.65) greater for minorities than for whites. Race and ethnicity does not have a significant effect on occupational status at 1 year postinjury.


CONCLUSIONS
With this empirical evidence supporting racial differences in employment outcomes between minorities and whites at 1 year postinjury, priority should be given to tailoring interventions to maximize minority survivors' work-related productivity.
Arango-Lasprilla
Juan Carlos
JC
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23219, USA. jcarangolasp@vcu.edu
Ketchum
Jessica M
JM
Williams
Kelli
K
Kreutzer
Jeffrey S
JS
Marquez de la Plata
Carlos D
CD
O'Neil-Pirozzi
Therese M
TM
Wehman
Paul
P
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D004651:Employment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012189:Retrospective Studies