title: Inter-professional clinical practice guideline for vocational evaluation following traumatic brain injury: a systematic and evidence-based approach.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This paper introduces an inter-professional clinical practice guideline for vocational evaluation following traumatic brain injury. This guideline aims to explicate the processes and factors relevant to vocational evaluation to assist evaluators (i.e. health care teams, individuals and employers) in collaboratively determining if clients are able to work and to make recommendations for work entry, re-entry or vocational planning.
  
  
  METHODS
  Methods in the Canadian Medical Association's (CMA) Handbook on Clinical Practice Guideline and the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation (AGREE) instrument were utilized to ensure rigour. Steps in the CMA handbook were followed and included: (1) identifying the guideline's objective and questions; (2) systematic literature review; (3) study selection and quality appraisal; (4) development of clear recommendations by key stakeholders; (5) guideline pilot testing and endorsement.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The resulting guideline includes 17 key recommendations within the seven domains: (1) evaluation purpose and rationale; (2) initial intake process; (3) assessment of the personal domain; (4) assessment of the environment; (5) assessment of occupational/job requirements; (6) analysis and synthesis; (7) evaluation recommendations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The guideline may be useful to individually practicing clinicians, health care teams, employers and individuals with TBI. Future research will formally examine the success of the guideline's implementation.
authors.affiliation: Graduate Department of Rehabilitation Science, University of Toronto, 160-500 University Ave., Toronto, ON M5G 1V7, Canada. mary.kita@utoronto.ca
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stergiou-Kita
authors.forename: Deirdre
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dawson
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rappolt
mesh_terms: D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D002170:Canada; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D004651:Employment; D055317:Evidence-Based Practice; D006801:Humans; D007373:Interinstitutional Relations; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D010865:Pilot Projects; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D012050:Rehabilitation, Vocational / Q000523:psychology / Q000592:standards*; D014938:Work Capacity Evaluation