title: Opportunities and barriers for successful return to work after acquired brain injury: A patient perspective.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Many people who suffer an acquired brain injury (ABI) are of working age. There are benefits, for the patient, the workplace, and society, to finding factors that facilitate successful return to work (RTW).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim was to increase knowledge of opportunities and barriers for a successful RTW in patients with ABI.
  
  
  METHODS
  Five men and five women with ABI participated. All had successfully returned to work at least 20 hours a week. Their experiences were gathered by semi-structured interviews, which were subsequently subjected to qualitative content analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three themes that influenced RTW were identified: individually adapted rehabilitation; motivation for RTW; and cognitive and social abilities. An individually adapted rehabilitation was judged important because the patients were involved in their own rehabilitation and required individually adapted support from rehabilitation specialists, employers, and colleagues. A moderate level of motivation for RTW was needed. Awareness of the person's cognitive and social abilities is essential, in finding compensatory strategies and adaptations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It seems that the vocational rehabilitation process is a balancing act in individualized planning and support, as a partnership with the employer needs to be developed, motivation needs to be generated, and awareness built of abilities that facilitate or hinder RTW.
authors.affiliation: University Health Care Research Center, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden.
authors.forename: Marie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Matérne
authors.affiliation: University Health Care Research Center, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden.|School of Law, Psychology and Social Work, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden.
authors.forename: Lars-Olov
authors.initials: LO
authors.lastname: Lundqvist
authors.affiliation: School of Law, Psychology and Social Work, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Strandberg
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000150:complications* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D004651:Employment / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D010465:Perception; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012050:Rehabilitation, Vocational / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology / Q000592:standards*; D062707:Return to Work; D013548:Sweden
keywords: Content analysis; qualitative interviews; vocational rehabilitation