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Implementing vocational rehabilitation for people with multiple sclerosis in the UK National Health Service: A mixed-methods feasibility study
Abstract
PURPOSE: To implement a job retention vocational rehabilitation (VR) intervention (MSVR) for people with multiple sclerosis (MS) and their employers in the UK National Health Service (NHS).
METHOD(S): Multicentre, single-arm feasibility study with post-intervention interviews. MSVR was delivered by an occupational therapist (OT). Feasibility was assessed by recruitment rates, compliance, and practicality of delivery. Acceptability was assessed with post-intervention interviews. A survey assessed change in eight vocational outcomes (e.g., vocational goals, work instability) immediately post-intervention and at 3-month follow-up.
RESULT(S): Recruitment and training an OT was challenging. Twenty participants with MS, three employers, and three healthcare professionals were recruited. All participants but one completed the intervention. Factors affecting intervention adherence included annual leave and family responsibilities.MSVR was associated with improved vocational goal attainment post-intervention (t(18)=7.41, p=<0.001) and at follow-up (t(17)=6.01, p=<0.001). There was no change to the remaining outcomes. Interviews identified six themes: intervention impact, accessibility of support, the OT's role, readiness for support, workplace supportiveness, and barriers to NHS delivery.
CONCLUSION(S): Challenges with recruitment, identifying newly diagnosed MS participants, and understanding the OT's training needs to deliver the intervention were identified. The intervention demonstrated acceptability, but participants wanted it to continue for longer to address further needs.
METHOD(S): Multicentre, single-arm feasibility study with post-intervention interviews. MSVR was delivered by an occupational therapist (OT). Feasibility was assessed by recruitment rates, compliance, and practicality of delivery. Acceptability was assessed with post-intervention interviews. A survey assessed change in eight vocational outcomes (e.g., vocational goals, work instability) immediately post-intervention and at 3-month follow-up.
RESULT(S): Recruitment and training an OT was challenging. Twenty participants with MS, three employers, and three healthcare professionals were recruited. All participants but one completed the intervention. Factors affecting intervention adherence included annual leave and family responsibilities.MSVR was associated with improved vocational goal attainment post-intervention (t(18)=7.41, p=<0.001) and at follow-up (t(17)=6.01, p=<0.001). There was no change to the remaining outcomes. Interviews identified six themes: intervention impact, accessibility of support, the OT's role, readiness for support, workplace supportiveness, and barriers to NHS delivery.
CONCLUSION(S): Challenges with recruitment, identifying newly diagnosed MS participants, and understanding the OT's training needs to deliver the intervention were identified. The intervention demonstrated acceptability, but participants wanted it to continue for longer to address further needs.
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Date
2024
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Article
Subject
Vocational rehabilitation, Multiple sclerosis, Occupational therapy, Employment
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De Dios Perez, B., Holmes, J., Elder, T., Lindley, R., Evangelou, N., das Nair, R., Senior, C., Booth, V., Hassard, J., Ford, H. L., et al. (2024). Implementing vocational rehabilitation for people with multiple sclerosis in the UK National Health Service: A mixed-methods feasibility study. Disability and Rehabilitation, DOI: 10.1080/09638288.2024.2417031.
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© 2024 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted
distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. The terms on which this article has been published allow the posting of the Accepte
Manuscript in a repository by the author(s) or with their consent
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