Vocational status: prediction by the Barthel index and PULSES profile

Functional assessment measures of patients in a rehabilitation hospital were used to predict vocational status 18 months after discharge. The Granger adapted version of the Barthel index and the PULSES profile were administered to 118 disabled persons at discharge. Their total scores were correlated with vocational status measured by a scale of 1 to 6, ranging from unemployment to full-time employment. Analysis of data reveals that the Barthel index and sex (female) predicted vocational status 18 months after discharge (p < 0.05). PULSES showed no significant correlation with vocational status. Further analysis indicates that in a stepwise regression of independent variables on vocational status, the best predictors were the Barthel index, sex (female), age (the younger are more likely to pursue a vocation), contacts with state rehabilitation counselor, and contacts with Tufts counselor. Further studies are needed to examine specific subgroups of the physically impaired population seen by medical centers and state rehabilitation agencies.