What are the most important factors for work participation in the young disabled? An expert view

Purpose: To define the most important factors for the work participation of the young disabled according to experts. Method: A Delphi study was conducted with internet questionnaires. Health-related, personal and environmental factors known from literature were presented to insurance physicians and labour experts. The experts assessed whether a factor was important for the work participation of the young disabled. New factors added by the experts in the first round were assessed in the second round. Factors assessed as important by at least 80% of the experts were input for the last round, in which the experts chose the ten most important factors. Results: Participation included 156 experts in the first round and 91 experts in the last round. They selected 44 of 92 factors as important. Severity of limitations, type of limitations and motivation were placed by more than 55% of the experts on their top-ten list to be assessed in a plan to help the young disabled participate in work. Conclusion: Severity and type of limitations and motivation are considered to be the most important factors for the work participation of the young disabled and should be included in a participation plan