title: The First Six Years of Building and Implementing a Return-to-Work Service for Patients with Acquired Brain Injury. The Rapid-Return-to-Work-Cohort-Study.
abstract: Background and objective Despite large activity worldwide in building and implementing new return-to-work (RTW) services, few studies have focused on how such implementation processes develop. The aim of this study was to examine the development in patient and service characteristics the first six years of implementing a RTW service for persons with acquired brain injury (ABI). Methods The study was designed as a cohort study (n=189). Data were collected by questionnaires, filled out by the service providers. The material was divided into, and analyzed with, two implementation phases. Non-parametrical statistical methods and hierarchical regression analyses were applied on the material. Results The number of patients increased significantly, and the patient group became more homogeneous. Both the duration of the service, and the number of consultations and group session days were significantly reduced. Conclusion The patient group became more homogenous, but also significantly larger during the first six years of building the RTW service. At the same time, the duration of the service decreased. This study therefore questions if there is a lack of consensus on the intensity of work rehabilitation for this group.
authors.affiliation: Presenter, Stavanger, Norway, Stavanger Innovation park, Prof. Olav Hansenssvei 7A, 4021, Stavanger, Norway.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Haveraaen
authors.affiliation: Tilburg School of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Tilburg University, Tranzo, PO Box 90153, 5000 LE, Tilburg, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: E P M
authors.initials: EPM
authors.lastname: Brouwers
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health Sciences, Oslo and Akershus University College, PO Box 4, St. Olavs plass, 0130, Oslo, Norway.|Dept. Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Oslo University Hospital, PO Box 4950, Nydalen, 0424, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Sveen
authors.affiliation: Presenter, Stavanger, Norway, Stavanger Innovation park, Prof. Olav Hansenssvei 7A, 4021, Stavanger, Norway.|Faculty of Health Sciences, Oslo and Akershus University College, PO Box 4, St. Olavs plass, 0130, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: L S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Skarpaas
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Social Science, University of Stavanger, PO Box 8600, Forus, 4036, Stavanger, Norway.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sagvaag
authors.affiliation: Presenter, Stavanger, Norway, Stavanger Innovation park, Prof. Olav Hansenssvei 7A, 4021, Stavanger, Norway. randi.w.aas@uis.no.|Faculty of Health Sciences, Oslo and Akershus University College, PO Box 4, St. Olavs plass, 0130, Oslo, Norway. randi.w.aas@uis.no.|Faculty of Social Science, University of Stavanger, PO Box 8600, Forus, 4036, Stavanger, Norway. randi.w.aas@uis.no.
authors.forename: R W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Aas
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000145:classification / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016730:Program Development; D062707:Return to Work / Q000523:psychology*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Acquired brain injury; Implementation science; Occupational rehabilitation; Return to work; Sick leave; Stroke; Traumatic brain injury