Interventions to Facilitate Return to Work after Stroke: A Systematic Review

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Occupational Health
• Rehabilitation Medicine

Background:

• Stroke survivors often face challenges returning to work.
• Effective interventions to support return to work (RTW) are crucial for this population.
• Current evidence on RTW interventions for stroke survivors is limited.

Approach:

• A systematic literature search was performed across major databases (MEDLINE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Scopus, Web of Science).
• Studies published since 2000, focusing on working-age adults (18-65) with a stroke diagnosis, were included.
• Interventions with return to work as a primary outcome were analyzed, assessing methodological quality.

Key Points:

• Twelve studies met the inclusion criteria, encompassing various study designs including randomized controlled trials and observational studies.
• Reported employment rates at follow-up varied significantly, ranging from 7% to 75.6%.
• Inconsistencies in follow-up duration and definitions of return to work contributed to the wide range of employment outcomes.

Conclusions:

• There is a scarcity of high-quality evidence regarding the effectiveness of interventions aimed at promoting return to work for stroke survivors.
• Further research, particularly large, controlled trials, is necessary to establish effective RTW strategies.
• Clarifying the definition and goals of return to work in stroke rehabilitation is essential.