title: Socioeconomic disparities in work performance following mild stroke.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationships among the factors that influence return to work for young individuals with mild stroke from different socioeconomic backgrounds.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective cohort study of working adults with mild stroke (N = 21). Participants completed an assessment battery of cognitive, work environment and work performance measures at approximately 3 weeks and 7 months post mild stroke. Individuals were placed in "skilled" and "unskilled" worker categories based on the Hollingshead Index.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Unskilled workers had significantly poorer scores on the majority of the cognitive assessments. Unskilled workers also perceived less social support (p = 0.017) and autonomy (p = 0.049) in work responsibilities than individuals in the skilled worker group and also reported significantly poorer work productivity due to stroke than those in the skilled group (p = 0.015).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Individuals from low socioeconomic backgrounds have more difficulty returning to work following mild stroke than individuals from higher socioeconomic backgrounds. Future work is needed to identify factors that can increase long-term work success and quality of work performance following a mild stroke that specifically targets the needs of individuals who have a lower socioeconomic status.
authors.affiliation: Program in Occupational Therapy and.
authors.forename: Joseph K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Brey
authors.forename: Timothy J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Wolf
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004651:Employment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D063868:Patient Outcome Assessment; D011446:Prospective Studies; D062707:Return to Work / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012944:Social Support; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000523:psychology*; D000071939:Stroke Rehabilitation
keywords: Employment outcomes; return to work; socioeconomic disparities; stroke
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