Factors Affecting Return to Work Among OEF/OIF Veterans With Polytrauma

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The goal of this study is to examine things that make it easy or hard for OEF/OIF veterans with polytrauma to live independently or do things on their own at home and in the community.

Detailed Description
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The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) identifies employment as a priority issue for OEF/OIF veterans. However, OEF/OIF veterans with polytrauma represent a new and unique VA sub-population. Polytraumatic injuries are more complex than injuries sustained in any previous conflict. Returning to work, therefore, may prove especially challenging. Among individuals with severe disabilities, employment outcomes are closely tied to the individual's level of success with Independent Living (IL). IL refers to the ability to reside in the community and participate in activities of choice by managing available resources, negotiating barriers and exercising self-determination. IL often is viewed as a prerequisite to employment for severely disabled individuals, because barriers and facilitators to independence at home and in the community also influence success in the workplace. Thus, IL will be a critical first step to pursuing vocational/employment goals for OEF/OIF veterans with polytrauma. To date, no published studies have investigated IL among veterans with polytrauma. This pilot study will be the first project in a line of research to promote the independence and employability OEF/OIF veterans. The goals of the study are twofold. Goal 1 of the study is to investigate the barriers and facilitators to IL identified by community dwelling OEF/OIF veterans with polytrauma, caregivers, and IL service providers, and perceptions of how these factors may affect veterans' return to work. This goal will be accomplished by using qualitative methods for data collection and analyses. Qualitative interviewing will be used to elicit the perspectives of veterans with polytrauma and caregivers living in Florida, and Florida-based Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment IL service providers. Qualitative data will be coded, and then analyzed using the constant comparative method. Goal #2 of the study is to evaluate the feasibility of using the data collection tools and procedures for a future planned study. An efficacy evaluation will be used to test and refine the data collection tools (interview guides and demographic checklists). To evaluate data collection procedures, field notes will be recorded and analyzed to identify optimal organizational procedures and time parameters to minimize subject burden. Findings will be used to plan and design a large, national study of factors affecting return to work among OEF/OIF veterans with polytrauma living throughout the United States. Findings also will be used to develop future proposals to fund longitudinal research and implementation projects to improve employability outcomes among veterans with polytrauma.

Official Title
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Factors Affecting Return to Work Among OEF/OIF Veterans With Polytrauma

Conditions
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Multiple Trauma, Blast Injuries, Brain Injuries

Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Diagnosis of OEF/OIF related polytraumatic injuries Exclusion Criteria: Polytraumatic injuries unrelated to OEF/OIF service

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 75 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Group 1<br>OEF/OIF veterans with polytrauma who have been referred by the Tampa VA Polytrauma Rehabilitation Center (PRC) to the VA VR&E Regional Office in St. Petersburg, Florida for Chapter 31 (IL) services. | |
| Group 2<br>Caregivers of the veterans who enroll in the study | |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Single, in-depth qualitative interviews |  | Single administration | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Demographic Checklist |  | Single administration | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Multiple Trauma, Blast Injuries, Brain Injuries, Rehabilitation, Vocational, Consumer participation