Are rehabilitation programmes enabling clients to return to work? Return to work perspectives of individuals with mild to moderate brain injury in South Africa.

OBJECTIVE

To describe the perceptions and experiences of individuals with brain injury with regard to return to work rehabilitation programmes.

PARTICIPANTS

Nine males and one female who were diagnosed with a moderate to mild brain injury participated in the study.

METHODS

In-depth interviews were conducted and data were analyzed using a qualitative approach to explicate patterns and themes.

RESULTS

Two themes emerged that reflected the lived experiences of individuals with brain injury regarding intervention programmes that influenced their ability to return to work after the brain injury: 1) Enablers of return to work programmes, 2) Barriers related to return to work programmes.

CONCLUSIONS

Occupational therapy practitioners as well as rehabilitation personnel should identify and eliminate the barriers that impact on return to work intervention programmes, incorporate the enablers identified in this study when designing return to work programmes.