Factors associated with successful vocational rehabilitation in persons with arthritis

Abstract

Objective. The objective of this study was to analyze factors associated with successful vocational rehabilitation (return to work) among persons receiving state—federal vocational rehabilitation services because of work disability from arthritis. Methods. Multivariate analyses were used to determine the association of sociodemographic, disease-related, and agency factors with work outcome among a group of 456 persons with arthritis receiving state—federal vocational rehabilitation services during 1985–1988. Results. Agency-sponsored physical restoration services (P < 0.0001) and retraining (P < 0.0001) were the variables most strongly correlated with return to work. Age, sex, race, disease severity, financial status, and educational level assessed at intake were not significantly associated with work rehabilitation outcome. Conclusion. Factors potentially amenable to agency intervention were more strongly associated with work rehabilitation outcome than were sociodemographic or disease-related variables.