Early Opportunities to Explore Occupational Identity Change: Qualitative Study of Return-To-Work Experiences After Stroke.
Rachelle A Martin, Julianne K Johns, Jonathan J Hackney and 6 others
PMID 36748979WHAT IT FOUND
Stroke survivors described needing early, low-pressure opportunities to practise work skills and talk with employers.
They valued services that anticipated their needs and offered continuous support, rather than waiting for them to ask for help.
Key findings
01Participants desired opportunities to explore occupational options early, including contributing to others, practising work skills, and having employment conversations.
02Support was perceived as affirming when it focused on family, allowed time to understand the new self, involved open communication, respected uniqueness, and provided clear pathways.
03Participants wanted vocational services to proactively anticipate their needs and provide continuity of access over time, rather than reacting only when issues arose.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
Participants were interviewed a mean of 5 years after their stroke, so findings reflect retrospective experiences rather than immediate post-stroke responses. The sample was recruited from New Zealand, which may limit generalisability to other healthcare systems or cultural contexts. The study focused on people who were working at the time of their stroke, so it may not capture the experiences of those who were not employed.
Declared interests
The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret these themes as evidence that specific vocational interventions improve return-to-work rates. This study reports what participants said they wanted and experienced, not the effectiveness of any particular service model.