title: Predictors of Employment Outcomes in Veterans With Traumatic Brain Injury: A VA Traumatic Brain Injury Model Systems Study.
abstract: To examine the length of time to return to work (RTW) among service members and veterans (SM/V) with traumatic brain injury (TBI) and to identify variables predictive of RTW.
  
  
  
  Department of Veterans Affairs Polytrauma Rehabilitation Centers (VA PRC).
  
  
  
  SM/V enrolled in the VA PRC Traumatic Brain Injury Model Systems database who were of 18 to 60 years of age and admitted with the diagnosis of TBI.
  
  
  
  Prospective observational cohort study.
  
  
  
  Employment status at 1-year postinjury follow-up; Time to Employment (ie, number of days it took to RTW) as documented during 1-year postinjury follow-up.
  
  
  
  The final sample (n = 293) included male (96%) SM/V with severe TBI (69%). Approximately 21% of the sample participants were employed at 1 year postinjury. Younger individuals who self-identified as nonminority returned to work sooner. Significant associations were observed for time to employment for cause of injury and injury severity.
  
  
  
  Few SM/V with moderate to severe TBI returned to work at 1 year postinjury. Predictors such as younger age at the time of injury, minority status, and severity of TBI affected time to and probability of RTW. Findings from this study have important implications for rehabilitation planning and service delivery across the continuum of recovery.
authors.affiliation: University of South Florida, Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling Program, Tampa (Dr Dillahunt-Aspillaga); HSR&D Center of Innovation on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (CINDRR), James A. Haley Veterans Hospital, Tampa, Florida (Drs Dillahunt-Aspillaga, Nakase-Richardson, Powell-Cope, Barnett, and Silva); Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury, Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center, Tampa, Florida (Drs Nakase-Richardson, Barnett, and Silva and Mr Haskin); MHBS, James A. Haley Veterans Hospital, Tampa, Florida (Drs Nakase-Richardson, Barnett, and Silva); Department of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa (Dr Nakase-Richardson); Moss Rehabilitation Research Institute, Elkins Park, Pennsylvania (Dr Hart); South Texas Veterans Health Care System, Polytrauma Rehabilitation Center, San Antonio (Dr Eapen); Departments of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and Ophthalmology, The University of Alabama, Birmingham (Dr Dreer); Traumatic Brain Injury Model Systems National Data and Statistical Center, Craig Hospital, Englewood, Colorado (Mr Mellick); General Dynamics Health Solutions, Tampa, Florida (Mr Haskin); and Department of Psychology, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida (Dr Silva).
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dillahunt-Aspillaga
authors.forename: Risa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nakase-Richardson
authors.forename: Tessa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hart
authors.forename: Gail
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Powell-Cope
authors.forename: Laura E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Dreer
authors.forename: Blessen C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Eapen
authors.forename: Scott D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Barnett
authors.forename: Dave
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mellick
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Haskin
authors.forename: Marc A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Silva
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000070642:Brain Injuries, Traumatic / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D066264:Datasets as Topic; D004651:Employment; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008889:Military Personnel; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D062707:Return to Work; D013997:Time Factors; D014481:United States; D014728:Veterans; D055815:Young Adult