"I've still got a job to go back to": the importance of early vocational rehabilitation after stroke.

Purpose: Returning to work is an important goal after stroke, not only as a recovery indicator but also for facilitating independent living and improved social identity. The aim of this study was to explore the lived experiences of vocational rehabilitation and the return to work pathway after stroke.

Method: Qualitative data were collected through semi-structured interviews with purposively selected participants who had participated in a vocational rehabilitation trial.