title: Effective return-to-work interventions after acquired brain injury: A systematic review.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To gather knowledge about effective return-to-work (RTW) interventions for patients with acquired brain injury (ABI).
  
  
  METHODS
  A database search was performed in PubMed, EMBASE, PsycINFO, CINAHL and the Cochrane Library using keywords and Medical Subject Headings. Studies were included if they met inclusion criteria: adult patients with non-progressive ABI, working pre-injury and an intervention principally designed to improve RTW as an outcome. The methodological quality of included studies was determined and evidence was assessed qualitatively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twelve studies were included, of which five were randomized controlled trials and seven were cohort studies. Nine studies had sufficient methodological quality. There is strong evidence that work-directed interventions in combination with education/coaching are effective regarding RTW and there are indicative findings for the effectiveness of work-directed interventions in combination with skills training and education/coaching. Reported components of the most effective interventions were tailored approach, early intervention, involvement of patient and employer, work or workplace accommodations, work practice and training of social and work-related skills, including coping and emotional support.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Effective RTW interventions for patients with ABI are a combination of work-directed interventions, coaching/education and/or skills training. These interventions have the potential to facilitate sustained RTW for patients with ABI.
authors.affiliation: a Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam , Coronel Institute of Occupational Health , Amsterdam , the Netherlands.|b Research Center for Insurance Medicine , Amsterdam , the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Birgit H P M
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Donker-Cools
authors.affiliation: a Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam , Coronel Institute of Occupational Health , Amsterdam , the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Joost G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Daams
authors.affiliation: a Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam , Coronel Institute of Occupational Health , Amsterdam , the Netherlands.|b Research Center for Insurance Medicine , Amsterdam , the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Haije
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wind
authors.affiliation: a Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam , Coronel Institute of Occupational Health , Amsterdam , the Netherlands.|b Research Center for Insurance Medicine , Amsterdam , the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Monique H W
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Frings-Dresen
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D062707:Return to Work / Q000523:psychology*; D014937:Work / Q000523:psychology
keywords: Acquired brain injury; intervention; rehabilitation; return-to-work; stroke; traumatic brain injury; vocational