title: Interventions for improving employment outcomes among individuals with spinal cord injury: a systematic review.
abstract: METHODS
  Systematic literature review.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The primary aim of this study was to evaluate interventions aimed at improving employment outcomes for individuals with spinal cord injuries (SCI).
  
  
  METHODS
  An electronic search of Medline/PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane database, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Social Science Abstracts and Social Work Abstract databases was performed on 31 December 2013. To be included in the review, studies needed to investigate interventions among individuals with SCI where employment was an outcome. Exclusion criteria include (i) reviews, (ii) studies not published in English and (iii) non-peer reviewed publications.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fourteen studies met the inclusion criteria, two were randomized controlled trials. The strongest evidence finds that supported employment can improve employment outcomes among individuals with SCI. The use of service dogs has also been shown to improve employment outcomes. The remaining 12 studies are observational and predominantly focus on vocational rehabilitation programs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is a dearth of high-quality intervention research that targets employment outcomes in individuals with SCI. Consequently, conclusions are mostly based on evidence from observational studies. Vocational rehabilitation programs are the primary focus of this evidence, but conclusions may be confounded, as individuals may be self-selecting for these programs. Additional randomized trials on employment interventions are needed to overcome these limitations. Studies should aim to identify which components of these programs have the greatest influence on employment outcomes.
authors.affiliation: 1] School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada [2] GF Strong Rehabilitation Center, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Trenaman
authors.affiliation: 1] GF Strong Rehabilitation Center, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada [2] Department of Occupational Sciences and Occupational Therapy, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada [3] Graduate Program in Rehabilitation Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
authors.forename: W C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.affiliation: 1] Department of Physical Therapy, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA, USA [2] ICF Research Branch in Cooperation with the WHO Collaborating Centre for the Family of International Classifications in Germany (at DIMDI), Nottwil, Switzerland [3] Swiss Paraplegic Research, Nottwil, Switzerland.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Escorpizo
mesh_terms: D016206:Databases, Bibliographic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004651:Employment; D006801:Humans; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*