TY - JOUR
T1 - Differences in employment outcomes 10 years after traumatic brain injury among racial and ethnic minority groups
AU - Gary, Kelli W.
AU - Ketchum, Jessica M.
AU - Arango-Lasprilla, Juan Carlos
AU - Kreutzer, Jeffrey S.
AU - Novack, Thomas
AU - Copolillo, Al
AU - Deng, Xiaoyan
PY - 2010
Y1 - 2010
N2 - Employment outcomes of racial and ethnic minority groups with traumatic brain injury (TBI) have not been thoroughly examined in the research literature beyond five years. The objective of this study was to examine differences in employment outcomes 10 years after TBI among racial and ethnic minorities. Using a multi-center, nationwide database, 382 participants (194 minorities and 188 whites) with primarily moderate to severe TBI from 16 TBI Model System Centers were examined. A logistic regression model indicated that the odds of being competitively employed versus not competitively employed at 10 years follow-up were 2.370 times greater for whites as compared to minorities after adjusting for age at injury, pre-injury employment status, cause of injury, and total length of stay (LOS). In addition, the odds of being competitively employed at 10 years follow-up versus not being competitively employed ranged from being 1.485 to 2.553 greater for those who were younger, employed at injury, had shorter total LOS, and non-violent injuries, respectively. This study supports previous research illustrating that compared to whites, employment is less promising for minorities after TBI both short and long term. Recommendations are suggested to help rehabilitation professionals target the specific needs of minorities with TBI in order to address employment disparities through culturally-based interventions and service delivery.
AB - Employment outcomes of racial and ethnic minority groups with traumatic brain injury (TBI) have not been thoroughly examined in the research literature beyond five years. The objective of this study was to examine differences in employment outcomes 10 years after TBI among racial and ethnic minorities. Using a multi-center, nationwide database, 382 participants (194 minorities and 188 whites) with primarily moderate to severe TBI from 16 TBI Model System Centers were examined. A logistic regression model indicated that the odds of being competitively employed versus not competitively employed at 10 years follow-up were 2.370 times greater for whites as compared to minorities after adjusting for age at injury, pre-injury employment status, cause of injury, and total length of stay (LOS). In addition, the odds of being competitively employed at 10 years follow-up versus not being competitively employed ranged from being 1.485 to 2.553 greater for those who were younger, employed at injury, had shorter total LOS, and non-violent injuries, respectively. This study supports previous research illustrating that compared to whites, employment is less promising for minorities after TBI both short and long term. Recommendations are suggested to help rehabilitation professionals target the specific needs of minorities with TBI in order to address employment disparities through culturally-based interventions and service delivery.
KW - Traumatic brain injury
KW - employment
KW - minorities
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=77955006934&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=77955006934&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3233/JVR-2010-0516
DO - 10.3233/JVR-2010-0516
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:77955006934
SN - 1052-2263
VL - 33
SP - 65
EP - 75
JO - Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation
JF - Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation
IS - 1
ER -