The impact of vocati̇onal rehabi̇li̇tati̇on on work performance in persons wi̇th disabilities

This study was planned to evaluate the effect of the occupational therapy program designed to enhance the problems of people with disabilities in their occupational identity, occupational competence, and occupational performance. 20 People who have applied to Hacettepe University Vocational Rehabilitation Center were included in the study. A configured interview method was practiced to the individuals by using the form of medical record, Canadian Occupational Performance Measurement (COPM), the Occpational Performance History Interview about the occupational performance (OPHI-II). Individual work performance was observed and assessed with a structured activity. Practice based occupational therapy (OT) had been practiced 120 minutes per session for once a week over 7 weeks as group intervention. After the group intervention, people with disabilities were evaluated again with same assesments and the results were compared. Within 3 months of group intervention, individual intervention was applied to the people who entered a job and the evaluations were repeated at the workplace. As a result of our study, there was a statistically significant difference between before and after intervention in COPM, OPHI-II, the measures of work performance (p<0,01). 15 people could be reached within the following 3 months and it was determined that 8 of them were entered a job. The individuals who entered the job were asked about areas they experienced problems. After the intervention (consultancy, activity adaptation, ergonomic arrangement, driver rehabilitation, etc.) in these problems, it was seen that the problems they stated in the COPM are intended for the areas they want to develop. Statistical significant was found in the results of OPHI-II (p<0,01) and it was not seen any problems about work performance. Vocational rehabilitation based on OT in people with disabilities provides an improvement in areas of work performance, occupational identity and occupational competence of individuals. There is a need for interventions include workplace intervention and analyze the effect of vocational rehabilitation based on OT in other areas such as quaility of life, daily living, motivation.