This case study outlines the accuracy of a rehabilitation counsellor in judgments of the quality of life of actual cases comprising accident victims. Up to seven cues of information relating to health, energy, daily activities, self, personal relations, money and living conditions were provided to the counsellor. He/she had to decide whether the clients considered their own quality of life to be poor or good. The counsellor was consistent in his/her judgments (test–retest reliability = .79). The counsellor was accurate in 60% of cases, but this is only marginally better than an automatic decision that every accident victim is dissatisfied with his/her quality of life. The judgment accuracy was suboptimal. It was influenced by a reliance (93%) on satisfaction with personal relationships, whereas basic issues such as money for everyday living were more important in predicting quality of life. It did not appear that increasing the amount of information led to an increase in accuracy. The correlation between accuracy and the number of cues was very low (-.160).

This study aimed to understand state-level variation in participation in the State/Federal Vocational Rehabilitation (State VR) System in the United States among transition-aged youth (persons under the age of 22 years at application for State VR services) with traumatic brain injury (TBI) in Federal Fiscal Year 2016. A weighted least squares regression analysis was conducted to determine the relationship of state-level population size, unemployment rate, and per-capita income to the number of State VR closures in each state for transition-aged youth with TBI. Population size and per-capita income significantly predicted closures, while there was no relationship between closures and unemployment rate. Research is needed that further explores and explains state-level disparities in participation among transition-aged youth with TBI.

This study was designed to investigate the relationship between Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and musculoskeletal system disorders and kinesiophobia levels. Eighty-four participants (41 diabetics and 43 nondiabetic individuals) self-reported their musculoskeletal problems and levels of kinesiophobia. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, nonparametric Pearson’s Chi-Square testing, and Mann–Whitney U test. Results indicated the total Cornell Musculoskeletal Discomfort Questionnaire score was 190.55 ± 261.56 for the patients with T2DM and 98.11 ± 167.31 for the control group (p < 0.05). Moreover, Tampa Kinesiophobia Scale scores were higher for the T2DM group (p < 0.05). We conclude from these findings that T2DM is associated with a higher frequency of musculoskeletal system disorders and higher levels of kinesiophobia.

A questionnaire survey of 85 counsellors investigated potential contributors to stress in the workplace and valued coping strategies. The sample consisted of three groups: a Government group, a Private group and a Religious group, which represented three different types of work organisation. Recent research suggests that organisational factors contribute to occupational stress, and that personal coping strategies may not alleviate stress appreciably. The results of the study indicated that the most stressed group was the Government group of counsellors, that the most highly rated contributor to stress was management attitudes and that the most valued coping strategies were organisational in nature rather than personal.

There have been various factors and events that have contributed to the development of the rehabilitation field in Australia. This paper particularly examines the social, economical and political influences, which have made significant impact on the field. Having established the historical basis of rehabilitation, this paper examines the current changes that are happening in the field and make some suggestions for future developments in both the field and in the profession of rehabilitation counselling.

A visual narrative intervention – Serious Storytelling with Images – was proposed to manage interview anxiety and performance. Its ability to evocate significant incidents and enhance narratives construction was evaluated ideographically in two case studies. The findings suggest varying levels of sophistication in interviewee actions, challenges encountered, and perceived roles of images. Counselors can refer to the hierarchical concepts when tailoring interview training and coaching. Further investigation is highly recommended to confirm and measure intervention effects.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, typically progressive immune-mediated disease characterized by inflammation and demyelination in the central nervous system (CNS), and is associated with a wide range of neurological, physical, and psychosocial effects. For people living with MS, access to relevant, timely, and accessible health information and resources may contribute to effective illness management, psychosocial health, and quality of life (QOL). In this study, we sought to increase understanding of the specific types of information most wanted by people with MS, as well as the sources and effects of this information. Specifically, we surveyed 748 adults with MS about (a) the sources from which they obtain information about MS, (b) the type of information that is most important in terms of improving their QOL, and (c) specific topics about which they would like to have more information, services, or resources. Content analysis of the qualitative results demonstrated the diversity of information sources accessed by people with MS and the importance of providing information through different formats and media. The participants prioritized information related to new MS medications and treatments, physical and mental health and wellness, and local opportunities for support. Implications for practicing rehabilitation counselors are discussed.

Youth with co-occurring mental illness and substance use disorders are at higher risk for vocational rehabilitation exclusion. This study aimed to (a) explore the personal factors associated with vocational outcomes of youth with co-occurring mental illness and substance use disorders and (b) highlight services that have shown the greatest promise for this population in the state-federal rehabilitation program in the United States. Our analytic sample was extracted from the Rehabilitation Services Administration’s Case Service Report data set for 2013, 2014, and 2015 fiscal years. Multiple regression analyses results identified personal factors such as gender, race/ethnicity, level of education, and severity of disability as predictors of the achievement of competitive employment, hours worked, and income. The receipt of vocational rehabilitation services such as job search support, job placement assistance, vocational training, and on-the-job support are significantly associated with the achievement of competitive employment, higher work hours, and income. These finding have implications for vocational rehabilitation practice as they highlight who is at higher risk for poor outcomes, effective services, and additional factors to consider when working with youth with co-occurring mental illness and substance use disorders.

The study explored and compared employers' concerns on hiring individuals with substance abuse in Chinese and Western work settings. One hundred employers from Beijing (n = 30), Hong Kong (n = 30), and Chicago (n = 40) were randomly recruited from small-sized firms and interviewed using a semi-structured interview guideline. The interview considered the following aspects: backgrounds of employers, their business and employees, hiring process and considerations, and hiring concerns towards people with substance abuse. Data were analysed using frequency count approach. Employers' concerns on hiring individuals with substance abuse in Beijing and Hong Kong focused more on communication abilities. In contrast, employers in Chicago focused more on job performance and productivity.

We analysed the psychometric properties of two published self-report suicide assessment competency rating scales – the Suicide Competency Inventory (SCI) and the Suicide Competency Assessment Form (SCAF) – in a sample of 93 public-sector vocational rehabilitation support staff from six states in the United States. Both measures demonstrated very good to excellent internal consistency in our sample. Exploratory factor analysis with principal axis factoring indicated the SCI loads on a two-factor model in this sample, as opposed to the three-factor model proposed by the measure's authors. The SCAF loaded on a single factor, consistent with the theoretical model proposed by the original authors. The SCI and SCAF were highly correlated with each other, providing initial evidence of convergent construct validity. These results provide initial support for the use of these measures as a reliable and valid means of assessing perceived suicide assessment competency in vocational rehabilitation support staff.

This study recruited 90 traumatic brain injury (TBI) caregivers from Guadalajara, Mexico to examine influences of five domains of TBI impairment and related caregiver stress on five types of family needs. Canonical correlations suggested that greater social impairment in individuals with TBI and related caregiver stress were associated with higher informational, household and health needs in families. Meanwhile greater physical impairments in individuals with TBI and related caregiver stress were associated with higher household needs. Additionally, greater emotional impairments in individuals with TBI and related caregiver stress were associated with higher informational needs. Caregiver interventions targeting specific TBI impairments and related caregiver stress may meet family needs and thereby improve the quality of informal care for their family members with TBI.

The evidence-based practice movement has led to higher quality intervention studies being reported in the health sciences literature (see, for example, Mosely et al., 2002), and consequently being available for uptake by practising health professionals. Yet interventions in applied settings need to satisfy more than the methodologically-based criteria associated with being categorised as a ‘well-established treatment’ (Chambless et al., 1996). Some of these additional criteria were recently described by King and Ollendick (2007). The current article extends these criteria so as to include attributes of interventions that (ideally) are required when designing or delivering services within rehabilitation settings.

Disability is commonly viewed as permanent loss of physical, cognitive and social aspects of self. Rehabilitation interventions are aimed to return the individual to full health by either restoration of past physical, cognitive or social capabilities or strengthening aspects of self to counter such loss. However, rehabilitation interventions do not result in a complete return to past physical, mental or social health. Does this mean that people with disability can never be healthy? Or does it indicate that our perception and definition of health does not reflect the essence of health? We argue that when people with disability redefine themselves in terms other than levels of physical, social and cognitive functioning, good health is an attainable goal. We discuss evidence that suggests why spirituality could be a primary determinant of health.

The present paper concerns the prevention and management of disability due to chronic pain. The problem of disabling chronic pain is presented and the impact on the community is highlighted. The scientific rationale for current approaches to management is discussed and the available empirical evidence reviewed. In particular, the present paper advocates application of the biopsychosocial model for the prevention and management of chronic pain-related disability. As such, the components of the biopsychosocial model are reviewed and recommendations for rehabilitation counselling practice are presented.

The rapid development of the profession of rehabilitation counselling in Australia during the past decade has been accompanied by a high level of staff turnover. This qualitative study identifies the aspects of the work of rehabilitation counsellors that contribute to job satisfaction and occupational stress. The issues identified by subjects can be categorised as aspects of the rehabilitation systems and aspects of the employing organisation. It was concluded that employers of rehabilitation counsellors should develop strategies to enhance job satisfaction and minimise occupational stress in order to reduce staff turnover.

This study explored family relationship dynamics of men with Adult Onset Epileptic Seizures (AOES) following an elective lobectomy procedure to address their frequent seizure activity. Informants were five Australian men with history of adult-onset epilepsy for which they received neurosurgery (aged 34–59 years). Thematic analysis following semi-structured interviews yielded three themes: role marginalization, role dependency and role enmeshment. All the men reported significant role marginalization in not being consulted about everyday life activities. They also reported to experience decisional role shifting towards their spouses or partners and children post-surgery. Their family role enmeshment experiences included being perceived by spouses or partners as adult–children and by their children as a parent–child. However, some of the men were accepting of these role definitions and to add rather than take away from their health-related quality of life.

This study investigated fatigue and anger in people with SCI. Participants were 27 adults with SCI living in the community (males = 26, females = 1; mean age = 50 years, SD = 9.47 years) and a comparison group of 27 other adults without SCI. Data about their experience of fatigue and anger were collected using the Chalder Fatigue Scale and the Profile of Mood States. Kruskal-Wallis ANOVA by ranks and chi-square analyses were used to determine whether the SCI participants had elevated levels of fatigue and anger than the typical or noninjured community group. Persons with SCI reported significantly elevated fatigue and elevated levels of anger than typical others. These findings are discussed with reference to adjustment following SCI, and interpreted in light of the Stress Appraisal and Coping Model (SAC) of adjustment following SCI.