Implementing vocational rehabilitation for people with multiple sclerosis in the UK National Health Service: a mixed-methods feasibility study.

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). Methods: Multicentre, single-arm feasibility study with post-intervention interviews. MSVR was delivered by an...

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Publicado en:Disability & Rehabilitation Vol. 47; no. 12; pp. 3124 - 3137
Autores principales: De Dios Perez, Blanca, Holmes, Jain, Elder, Tracey, Lindley, Rebecca, Evangelou, Nikos, das Nair, Roshan, Senior, Caolan, Booth, Vicky, Hassard, Juliet, Ford, Helen L., Newsome, Ian, Radford, Kate
Formato: research tables/charts Journal Article
Publicado: Taylor & Francis Ltd Jun2025
Acceso en línea:Ver este registro en EBSCOhost
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      dt: Jun2025
      vid: 47
      iid: 12
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      pub: Taylor & Francis Ltd
      place: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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        10.1080/09638288.2024.2417031
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        atl: Implementing vocational rehabilitation for people with multiple sclerosis in the UK National Health Service: a mixed-methods feasibility study.
      aug:
        au:
          De Dios Perez, Blanca
          Holmes, Jain
          Elder, Tracey
          Lindley, Rebecca
          Evangelou, Nikos
          das Nair, Roshan
          Senior, Caolan
          Booth, Vicky
          Hassard, Juliet
          Ford, Helen L.
          Newsome, Ian
          Radford, Kate
        affil: Centre for Rehabilitation and Ageing Research, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
      sug:
        subj:
          Multiple Sclerosis Rehabilitation
          National Health Programs United Kingdom
          Personnel Retention
          Rehabilitation, Vocational
          Implementation Science
          Health Services Accessibility
          Human
          Funding Source
          United Kingdom
          Multimethod Studies
          Pilot Studies
          Multicenter Studies
          Semi-Structured Interview
          Occupational Therapists
          After Care
          Salaries and Fringe Benefits
          Family Relations
          Accountability
          Goal Attainment
          Thematic Analysis
          Professional Role
          Occupational Therapy
          Descriptive Statistics
          Paired T-Tests
          Data Analysis Software
          Confidence Intervals
          Male
          Female
          Adult
          Middle Age
          Adult: 19-44 years
          Middle Aged: 45-64 years
          Male
          Female
      ab: 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). Methods: 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. Results: 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: 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. IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATION: Successful implementation of vocational rehabilitation services for people with multiple sclerosis within healthcare services requires multiple environmental and pragmatic changes. Healthcare professionals should record employment status from diagnosis to monitor changes in employment over the disease course, highlighting changes in working hours, occupation type, and employment rates. Vocational rehabilitation has the potential to improve the confidence of people with MS around symptom management and feeling supported and empowered at work.
      pubtype: Academic Journal
      doctype:
        research
        tables/charts
        Journal Article
      ougenre: Article
    language: English
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