Virtual Care Appointments and Experience Among Older Rural Patients with Chronic Conditions in New South Wales: An Analysis of Existing Survey Data.

This retrospective, descriptive study, conducted in 2024, analysed Virtual Care Survey (2020-2022) data of patients' self-reported reflections on use and experiences to investigate relationships between demographics, the number of chronic conditions, and virtual care use among older rural patients (≥65 years with at least one chronic condition) living in New South Wales, and their satisfaction with virtual care. Associations between categorical variables were assessed using chi-squared tests, and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used for continuous variables. Qualitative feedback was analysed thematically.

Assessing cognitive communication skills for returning to work following acquired brain injury: a systematic scoping review.

Purpose: Cognitive communication impairments resulting from acquired brain injury (ABI) impact a person's ability to return to and maintain employment. This study reviews the assessment of cognitive communication skills for return to work after injury.

Materials And Methods: A scoping review was conducted.

Injured worker participation in assessment during the acute phase of workers compensation rehabilitation: a scoping review.

Purpose: Rates of return to work (RTW) are declining in the Australian workers compensation system alongside significant economic and social costs, disputes, and secondary psychological injury. Non-medical assessment of workplace injuries now considers psychosocial and workplace factors, and worker participation in the assessment process is limited. This scoping review examines studies regarding non-medical assessment during the acute phase of rehabilitation in terms of costs, disputes, secondary psychological injury, and worker participation.

Clinician perspectives of ABI vocational rehabilitation in Queensland.

Introduction: Services to support adults with acquired brain injury (ABI) and return to work goals are varied. In Queensland, Australia, return to work goals may be addressed through private or publicly funded rehabilitation services or through publicly funded employment programs. No set frameworks or processes are in place to guide clinicians in providing vocational rehabilitation to adults with ABI, and the extent to which services address clients' vocational goals and/or provide vocational rehabilitation is unknown.

Perceived vocational support needs and return-to-work outcomes in the first 12-months post-discharge in individuals with acquired brain injury and spinal cord injury: A retrospective cohort study.

Background: Return-to-work (RTW) is often viewed as an important outcome following acquired brain injury (ABI) and spinal cord injury (SCI), although not all individuals have vocational goals and many experience barriers to RTW.

Objective: This study investigated the relationship between RTW and psychosocial functioning at 12-months post-discharge after ABI and SCI and examined patterns of RTW according to perceived need for and receipt of vocational support.

Methods: A file audit was conducted for 69 participants with ABI (n = 44) and SCI (n = 25).

Scoping review of return-to-work interventions for persons with traumatic brain injury.

Purpose: The study approach sought to understand which vocational rehabilitation (VR) strategies are available for individuals seeking return to work (RTW) following traumatic brain injury (TBI). Secondly, the review aimed to identify how these RTW interventions and outcomes are evaluated.

Materials And Methods: Using the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) approach, the scoping review began by identifying relevant English language articles PubMed, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and Embase databases for peer-reviewed journal articles published from January 2013 to September 2021.

A framework to support early team-based provision of vocational rehabilitation for adults with acquired brain injury.

Purpose: Specialised vocational rehabilitation (VR) following acquired brain injury (ABI) positively impacts return to work, however access to this is limited globally. Providing VR as a component of standard ABI rehabilitation may improve access to VR and influence vocational outcomes. This study aimed to develop an evidence-based framework for the delivery of ABI VR during early transitional community rehabilitation.

Back2Work: a new model of early vocational rehabilitation for people with spinal cord injury.

Objective The aim of this article is to describe the development of a novel evidence-based model of early intervention vocational rehabilitation (EIVR) for people with spinal cord injury (SCI). Methods An extensive literature review and background study guided the collaboration of experienced practitioners and researchers in developing and evaluating the innovative Back2Work model of EIVR for people with SCI in Queensland, Australia. The program is undergoing longitudinal mixed-methods evaluation to the end of 2023.

Identifying models, processes, and components of vocational rehabilitation following acquired brain injury: a systematic scoping review.

Purpose: Acquired brain injury (ABI) is a complex injury which impacts engagement with worker roles. Return to work (RTW) rates for individuals with brain injury are low and those who do RTW often report job instability. Vocational rehabilitation (VR) can improve RTW rates and job stability; however, service provision is varied, and no gold standard has been identified.

Work after prostate cancer: a systematic review.

Purpose: Research in the field of vocational rehabilitation, specifically for prostate cancer, remains rare despite increasing recognition of the role of vocational interventions in other cancer groups. The aim of this review was to compile and evaluate current trends, facilitators and barriers associated with returning to work after a prostate cancer diagnosis.

Method: The literature search was conducted in March 2018 using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines.

Investigating employment following spinal cord injury: outcomes, methods, and population demographics.

The purpose of this review was to synthesize the literature about spinal cord injury and employment, focusing on sample demographics, indicators of employment outcome, and the methods used. The review included literature from the previous decade; 2006-2017. A systematic quantitative literature review methodology was utilized, wherein papers' characteristics were extracted and categorized in a database according to their topics, employment outcome indicators, populations, locations, and methods.

Integrated services and early intervention in the vocational rehabilitation of people with spinal cord injuries.

Introduction: The design was a narrative review. The objective of the study was to investigate the potential for early vocational rehabilitation (VR) interventions for people with spinal cord injury (SCI) in overcoming barriers in returning to work, and to pinpoint factors contributing to effectiveness in early VR intervention for this population. The setting was at Queensland, Australia.

Relinquishing or taking control? Community perspectives on barriers and opportunities in advance care planning.

Objective: This paper reports on the experiences and perspectives of community members in relation to advance healthcare directives and enduring power of attorney, including the factors that encourage or discourage engagement in advance care planning (ACP). METHODS; A qualitative methodology was used involving 26 in-depth telephone interviews with community members (mean age 66 years). The aims of the interview question were to gain an understanding of: (1) motivations for engaging in ACP; (2) barriers that prevent people from engaging in ACP; and (3) suggestions for promoting ACP.

It's just too hard! Australian health care practitioner perspectives on barriers to advance care planning.

This article presents findings from six focus groups with health care practitioners in an Australian hospital during 2010, which sought to elicit their perspectives on the barriers for people to plan their future health care should they become unwell. Such knowledge is invaluable in overcoming the barriers associated with advance care planning and enhancing the uptake of advance directives and the appointment of an enduring power of attorney for people of all ages. A person's rights to self-determination in health care, including decision making about their wishes for future care in the event they lose cognitive capacity, should not be overlooked against the backdrop of increasing pressure on health care systems.