Identifying characteristics of vocational rehabilitation journeys for patients who retain their success.

Abstract Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) is a multidisciplinary health and social services process where patients are supported to permanently enter or re-enter the workforce. The aim of this retrospective cohort study spanning the last two decades was to investigate prolonged success after personalised VR and to identify aspects of VR that could be influenced to improve prolonged success. Former patients of an interdisciplinary VR centre in Iceland were surveyed and, using logistic regression, their responses were modelled with respect to socioeconomic information and descriptions of their progression and experience during the VR obtained by rigorous scientific methodology. Several aspects were found that could be influenced to increase the probability of prolonged success. These relate to three main areas; financial security, social skills and mental status as well as the importance of time and support during the transition from VR to work or education. This was independent of age and gender. Personalised VR is a cornerstone of successful VR.