Availability of vocational rehabilitation services for people with acquired brain injury in Dutch rehabilitation institutions

Objective: To provide an overview of the availability of and process involved in vocational rehabilitation (VR) services for people with acquired brain injury (ABI) provided in Dutch rehabilitation institutions. Methods: A survey on the availability and characteristics of the VR intervention process for people with ABI was conducted in all Dutch rehabilitation centers and rehabilitation departments of general and academic hospitals (n = 120). Different domains of the VR intervention process were included in the questionnaire, the number (and percentage) of respondents giving a certain answer within a domain was reported. Results: Fifty-five institutions replied (response rate 46%). VR services for ABI were provided in 34 (62%) of these, of which 20 (59%) used a VR protocol. The main similarities found among different organizations providing VR services were the involvement of different disciplines, determination of the gap between job requirements and the patient’s abilities, goal-setting for VR, involvement of external partners, timing, and source of funding. The main differences found concerned start and stop criteria, and coordination of the VR process. Conclusions: Currently, at least 30% of the Dutch rehabilitation institutions offer VR services for people with ABI; there is variation in processes.