Prospective randomized controlled trial of resource facilitation on community participation and vocational outcome following brain injury.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the impact of resource facilitation (RF) on return to work, participation in home and community activities, and depression.

PARTICIPANTS: Twenty-two people with acquired brain injury (mean age = 43 years; mean education = 13.3 years).

DESIGN: A prospective randomized controlled trial of RF compared with standard care. All participants received standard follow-up services, but participants in the RF group were also assigned a resource facilitator to assist them in returning to work.

RESULTS: Participation increased significantly for both groups (F = 60.65, P < .0001), but the interaction between groups and time demonstrated greater improvement for the RF group relative to controls (F = 9.11, P < .007). Also, 64% of the RF group was employed at follow-up compared with 36% of the control group (Wald-Wolfkowitz z = -3.277, P < .0001). No significant differences were found between groups on measures of depression.

CONCLUSION: Resource facilitation services that have a clear focus on return to work may have a substantial impact on participation and unemployment after brain injury.