Citation

Johnstone B, Mount D, Gaines T, Goldfader P, Bounds T, Pitts O. Brain Inj. 2003; 17(2): 95-104.

Affiliation

University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, MO, USA. johnstoneg@health.missouri.edu

Copyright

(Copyright © 2003, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

12519638

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate race differences in demographics, injury severity, and vocational outcomes for persons with TBI. PARTICIPANTS: Seventy-five individuals with TBI (13 African American, 62 Caucasian) who requested services from the Missouri Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) over a 2-year period. MEASURES: Demographics (i.e. age, race, level of education), injury severity (i.e. LOC, PTA, length of hospitalization, neuropsychological test scores), VR services provided (e.g. transportation, maintenance, on-the-job training, etc.), and VR outcomes (successfully vs unsuccessfully employed; cost per case). PROCEDURE: All participants completed a standard neuropsychological evaluation and completed VR services (i.e. were followed from enrollment to case closure). HYPOTHESES: African Americans and Caucasians would not differ in demographics or injury severity, although fewer African Americans would be successfully employed through DVR. ANALYSES: Chi-squares and non-parametric MANOVAs to evaluate race differences in terms of demographics, injury severity, vocational services provided and vocational outcomes. RESULTS: As hypothesized, there were few race differences in demographics or injury severity, although African Americans received significantly more transportation services (62 vs 21%). Contrary to hypotheses, there was no difference in the number of successfully employed African Americans (23%) vs Caucasians (18%). CONCLUSIONS: African Americans and Caucasians with TBI achieve similar vocational successes if they receive state VR services.

Language: en