TY - JOUR
T1 - Methods of a multisite randomized clinical trial of supported employment among veterans with spinal cord injury
AU - Ottomanelli, Lisa
AU - Goetz, Lance
AU - McGeough, Charles
AU - Suris, Alina
AU - Sippel, Jennifer
AU - Sinnott, Patricia
AU - Wagner, Todd H.
AU - Cipher, Daisha J.
PY - 2009
Y1 - 2009
N2 - This article compares the methods of a randomized multisite clinical trial of evidence-based supported employment with conventional vocational rehabilitation among veterans with spinal cord injury (SCI). The primary hypothesis is that, compared with conventional vocational rehabilitation (i.e., standard care), evidence-based supported employment will significantly improve competitive employment outcomes and general rehabilitation outcomes. The secondary hypothesis is that evidence-based supported employment in SCI will be more cost-effective than standard care. The current article describes the clinical trial and presents baseline data. The present sample includes 301 veterans with SCI, which includes paraplegia (50%), high tetraplegia (32%), and low tetraplegia (18%). Baseline data indicate that 65% of this sample of employment-seeking veterans with SCI had never been employed postinjury, despite the fact that nearly half (41%) had received some type of prior vocational rehabilitation. These rates of unemployment for veterans with SCI are consistent with the rates reported for community samples of persons with SCI. Forthcoming outcome data will provide much needed insights into the best practices for helping these veterans restore vocational goals and improve overall quality of life.
AB - This article compares the methods of a randomized multisite clinical trial of evidence-based supported employment with conventional vocational rehabilitation among veterans with spinal cord injury (SCI). The primary hypothesis is that, compared with conventional vocational rehabilitation (i.e., standard care), evidence-based supported employment will significantly improve competitive employment outcomes and general rehabilitation outcomes. The secondary hypothesis is that evidence-based supported employment in SCI will be more cost-effective than standard care. The current article describes the clinical trial and presents baseline data. The present sample includes 301 veterans with SCI, which includes paraplegia (50%), high tetraplegia (32%), and low tetraplegia (18%). Baseline data indicate that 65% of this sample of employment-seeking veterans with SCI had never been employed postinjury, despite the fact that nearly half (41%) had received some type of prior vocational rehabilitation. These rates of unemployment for veterans with SCI are consistent with the rates reported for community samples of persons with SCI. Forthcoming outcome data will provide much needed insights into the best practices for helping these veterans restore vocational goals and improve overall quality of life.
KW - Department of veterans affairs
KW - Employment
KW - Evidence-based practice
KW - Multicenter trial
KW - Persons with disabilities
KW - Randomized controlled trial
KW - Rehabilitation
KW - Research design
KW - Spinal cord injuries
KW - Supported employment
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=70349143037&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=70349143037&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1682/JRRD.2008.10.0145
DO - 10.1682/JRRD.2008.10.0145
M3 - Article
C2 - 20104414
AN - SCOPUS:70349143037
SN - 0748-7711
VL - 46
SP - 919
EP - 930
JO - Journal of Rehabilitation Research and Development
JF - Journal of Rehabilitation Research and Development
IS - 7
ER -