The use of the EUROHIS as a brief measure of quality of life (QOL) in applied settings is increasingly commonplace, including in rehabilitation assessment contexts. However, there are concerns about the validity of data produced by the measure, chief amongst which is the latent structure underlying scores. This article reports on research conducted to investigate the dimensionality of scores derived from the EUROHIS. In addition, the factorial invariance of the retained model across gender as well as latent mean differences in QOL over age, employment status, and psychiatric severity were examined. Based on 251 responses to the EUROHIS by compensable accident victims, support was found for a complex one-factor model, which was found to be partially replicable across gender. Some evidence for differential item functioning across gender, age, and employment status was found. Finally, a U-shaped effect of age on QOL, characterized by a mid-life nadir, as well as effects of psychiatric severity on QOL, and a marginally significant effect of employment status were evident. Collectively, though the results of the present study yield validation data for the EUROHIS, they also raise concerns about the measure. We offer some tentative guidelines for working with the measure for both researchers and practitioners.

This study investigated the vocational rehabilitation experiences of 29 clients, up to 14 years post brain injury. Data obtained from participant interviews were thematically analysed by employment pathway (‘return to pre-injury employment’, ‘job seeking’ and ‘not worked since injury’). A total of nine themes were identified. Across all pathways, participants identified the importance of working, impact of injury and their own determination. The content for the remaining themes (understanding, adjustment, access, support, disclosure of injury, intervention) varied by pathway, reflecting the differing perspectives arising from integrating back into a familiar workplace versus seeking new employment. In conclusion, programme approaches to vocational rehabilitation need to be tailored to the individual circumstances, opportunities and support needs of people with brain injury pursuing these different pathways.

This article reviews the research evidence on vocational rehabilitation services and rehabilitation counselling practice with Indigenous Australians. It applied a context sensitive, cultural safety and reflexivity approach to construct salient themes from the research evidence. Findings suggest Indigenous Australians with disabilities experience significant ‘double-disadvantage’, and that vocational rehabilitation service providers lack the knowledge and skills in culturally safe practice in order to enhance the opportunities for social and economic inclusion of Indigenous Australians. A whole-of-profession approach, incorporating and ensuring Indigenous client equity and cultural safety in vocational rehabilitation, is critically and urgently needed.

This study investigated the effectiveness of support groups for people living with chronic ill-health conditions. Searches of the published literature were undertaken for the period 1993–2013. Papers were included if participants were between 18 and 65 years old, and study designs were either pre-test post-test one group descriptive, non-randomised group comparison, or randomised controlled trial, with reported data appropriate for meta-analysis and sufficient for estimating effect size(s). Total 19 studies were eligible in the meta-analysis, and 2,986 participants were examined. Six general outcome categories emerged from the data: (1) psychosocial functioning, (2) self-efficacy, (3) quality of life, (4) health status, (5) health behaviours and (6) health care use. In total, 155 effect sizes were calculated from the outcome measures with 15.5% resulting in a large effect size, 6% moderate effects, 39% small effects, and 39.5% producing trivial effects. The majority of the effect sizes (92%) were in the hypothesised direction. Overall, results demonstrate that self-help and support group interventions can positively influence management of chronic ill-health conditions and contribute to the desired outcome of successful adaptation.

The study aimed to understand the use and barriers to use of post-acute-care services by persons with acquired brain injury (ABI). A total of 21 primary family caregivers of persons recently discharged from an ABI acute-care facility in a large southwestern city in the United States participated. Service use in 14 domains appeared consistent with post-discharge needs. In five service areas, participants were not aware the service was available. Professionals in acute ABI rehabilitation units need to be fully aware of the range of available potential supports and diligent in informing injured persons and their families about available post-discharge services.

The objectives of this study were (1) to evaluate the measurement structure of the Perceived Empathic and Social Self-Efficacy Scale amongst 194 individuals with serious mental illness (SMI) and (2) to establish construct validity for the Perceived Empathic and Social Self-Efficacy Scale. Confirmatory factor analysis yielded a two-factor measurement structure of the Perceived Empathic and Social Self-Efficacy Scale, which was positively associated with insight, social support, and life satisfaction. The Perceived Empathic and Social Self-Efficacy Scale is a useful measure to assess social skills amongst individuals with SMI in rehabilitation counselling.