Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 15, 2025

Using Visual and Narrative Methods to Achieve Fair Process in Clinical Care
Published on: February 16, 2011
Key Outcomes for a Vocational Rehabilitation Intervention for People With Multiple Sclerosis: A Nominal Group
Blanca De Dios Perez1,2, Caolan Senior1, Roshan das Nair3,4,5
1Centre for Rehabilitation and Ageing Research, Queens Medical Centre, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK.
Background:
Job retention vocational rehabilitation (VR) interventions for people with multiple sclerosis (MS) can positively impact a person's independence and directly influence health and employment outcomes. However, evaluating the effectiveness of VR interventions can be challenging due to their highly individualised nature and the diverse range of potential health and employment outcomes that may be impacted.
Aim:
To identify the most important outcomes of a job retention VR intervention from the perspective of people with MS.
Design:
A nominal group technique (NGT) was conducted with people with MS using Microsoft Teams and Microsoft Forms. The study involved completing a demographic questionnaire, being introduced to VR, silently generating ideas, round-robin discussions, ranking outcomes and reaching a consensus. NGT data were analysed using thematic analysis.
Results:
We conducted two NGTs involving 10 participants with MS. Nine outcomes were identified and ranked based on priority, relating to four themes: (1) Employer support and collaboration; (2) Empowerment; (3) Symptom management and progression and (4) Professional well-being and performance.
Conclusion:
Improvements in employer support and symptom management were seen as key outcomes for VR interventions that could eventually lead to enhanced work performance and job retention for people with MS. Future research should explore how feasible it is to collect these outcomes to ascertain the impact of VR on employment over time. Due to the complexity of the outcomes identified, there may be a need to develop new outcome measures with improved validity and sensitivity to these interventions.
Patient Or Public Contribution:
This study is part of a larger project co-developed with three people MS. A lead patient and public involvement representative and lay co-author reviewed the study topic guide to improve clarity and study focus and supported the group discussions and data analysis with input from the lead researcher.
Related Concept Videos
Modeling in Therapy
Participant Modeling
Participant modeling involves therapists demonstrating calm and effective behaviors in...
Guidelines for Writing Outcome
Patient outcomes reflect the patient's response to the goal rather than what the nurse aims to achieve. Terminology should be observable and measurable to avoid the reader's interpretation. The desired outcome should be realistic and achievable in the designated care timeframe. Expected outcomes should align with adjunctive therapies. The outcome should enhance care...
Group Therapy
Specialized Care Centers and Settings-II
Rural health centers are specialized care facilities in remote locations with very few medical personnel. The primary care providers who run the centers are mostly Registered Nurse Practitioners. Here, emergency treatment is provided to critically ill or injured patients before they are transferred to the closest hospital. Fortunately, due to advancement in technology, many rural healthcare facilities and professionals have easy access to diagnostic and treatment...

