Prediction Models on Return to Work of Rehabilitants Following Vocational Training Programme Participation

Purpose: Vocational rehabilitation aims at vocational reintegration of disabled persons. Three different types of rehabilitative vocational training programmes - i.e., vocational retraining in Berufsforderungswerken (vocational rehabilitation centres), in-plant vocational retraining according to the German dual system of initial vocational training, and vocational continuation courses - were explored concerning subsequent vocational reintegration of the participants. Methods: The rehabilitants were given standardized questionnaires at the beginning (T1) and 1 year after their vocational training (T5). Between 61% and 64% of those rehabilitants who had completed their vocational training took part in the final postal survey 1 year after the vocational rehabilitation (T5). Data of the T1-questionnaires were used for prediction models concerning successful vocational reintegration of the rehabilitants one year after their vocational training. Results: Important differences were found between the participants of the three rehabilitation programmes in socio-demographic, health-related and psychological characteristics, due to specific statutory criteria for assignment of disabled persons to the different forms of vocational rehabilitation. 1 year after the vocational training, 55% of the rehabilitants of both forms of vocational retraining (external, in-plant) and 31% of the participants of vocational continuation courses were employed in the first labour market. For all 3 forms of vocational rehabilitation programmes, 3 significant predictors were found concerning successful vocational reintegration of the rehabilitants: the local job market at the participants' residence, specific health complaints (pain or sleep disturbances) and social support. Other significant predictors were a number of psychological, sociological, and occupation-related biographical variables. Discussion: A set of variables proved to be relevant predictors for vocational reintegration of rehabilitants 1 year after the end of vocational retraining and continuation measures. Some of these variables could be used practically for specific interventions to increase chances of vocational reintegration for participants of vocational rehabilitation measures.