Determinants of return to work among spinal cord injury patients: A literature review

Abstract

This paper presents a review of the literature of articles that examined determinants of return to work, among persons who experience spinal cord injury. Results of the review highlight the low rate of employment among persons with spinal cord injury. A total of fourteen common factors that influence professional reintegration were identified. These factors include: education, type of employment, severity of the lesion, age, time since injury, gender, marital status and social support, vocational counselling, medical problems, employer's attitudes, race, psychological state, and environment. While a number of variables associated with return to work were identified, there exists great variability across studies. Consequently, no clear conclusion on return to work can be drawn from the literature. This article highlights factors that facilitate professional reintegration, identifies gaps in the literature and suggest paths for future research.