Citation

Lequerica AH, Botticello AL, OʼNeill J, Lengenfelder J, Krch D, Chiaravalloti ND, Sander AM, Bushnik T, Ketchum JM, Hammond FM, Dams-Oʼconnor K, Felix E, Johnson-Greene D. J. Head Trauma Rehabil. 2019; 34(1): E46-E54.

Affiliation

Kessler Foundation, East Hanover, and Rutgers, New Jersey Medical School, Newark, New Jersey (Drs Lequerica, Botticello, O'Neill, Lengenfelder, Krch, and Chiaravalloti); Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Baylor College of Medicine and Harris Health System, and Brain Injury Research Center, TIRR Memorial Hermann, Houston, Texas (Dr Sander); Rusk Rehabilitation, NYU Langone Health, New York (Dr Bushnik); Craig Hospital Research Department, and Traumatic Brain Injury Model Systems National Data and Statistical Center, Englewood, Colorado (Dr Ketchum); Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Indiana University School of Medicine, Rehabilitation Hospital of Indiana, Indianapolis (Dr Hammond); Departments of Rehabilitation Medicine and Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York (Dr Dams-O'Connor); and Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida (Drs Felix and Johnson-Greene).

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins)

DOI

10.1097/HTR.0000000000000398

PMID

29863616

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To examine the influence of nativity and residential characteristics on productive activity among Hispanics at 1 year after traumatic brain injury (TBI). SETTING: Acute rehabilitation facilities and community follow-up. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 706 Hispanic individuals in the TBI Model Systems National Database.

DESIGN: Secondary data analysis from a multicenter longitudinal cohort study. MAIN MEASURES: Nativity (foreign born or US native), productive activity derived from interview questions regarding employment status, and other demographic information. Census data were extracted by zip code to represent residential characteristics of aggregate household income and proportion of foreign language speakers (FLS).

RESULTS: Among foreign-born individuals with TBI, those living in an area with a higher proportion of FLS were 2.8 times more likely to be productive than those living in areas with a lower proportion of FLS. Among individuals living in an area with a lower proportion of FLS, US-born Hispanics were 2.7 times more likely to be productive compared with Hispanic immigrants.

CONCLUSION: The relationship between nativity and productive activity at 1 year post-TBI was moderated by the residential proportion of FLS.

FINDINGS underscore the importance of considering environmental factors when designing vocational rehabilitation interventions for Hispanics after TBI.

Language: en