ERIC Number: ED669230
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2021
Pages: 188
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: 979-8-5381-1388-0
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: 0000-00-00
Predicting Sociodemographic Characteristics, Medical Insurance, Employment Status, and Vocational Rehabilitation Service Factors Influencing Cancer Survivors' Employment Outcomes within the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA-911) Database
Mirang Park
ProQuest LLC, Ph.D. Dissertation, The University of Wisconsin - Madison
Employed cancer survivors commonly experience stigmatization, work-related changes that create barriers to maintaining or returning to work, and high unemployment. Vocational rehabilitation (VR) services can be an important resource in job retention among cancer survivors, however the specific VR needs and most effective services for this population are not well understood and have received little research attention. In order to improve understanding of the vocational needs of cancer survivors and the most effective VR services, this study involved analysis of the sociodemographic, employment, and VR service factors associated with the employment and retention outcomes of VR participants with a primary disability of cancer. A non-experimental, quantitative, descriptive, cross-sectional, and retrospective research design was used to analyze Rehabilitation Services Administration services data (RSA-911 dataset). The study sample included 3,289 service records for VR consumers with a primary disability of cancer who had completed an Individual Plan for Employment (IPE) and who exited VR services between 2017 and 2019. The research questions addressed the participants' sociodemographic, health insurance, and public support characteristics at application; their employment outcomes at VR service exit; and the predictors of successful employment retention outcomes for VR applicants who were employed at application. Approximately half of the participants (46.8%) exited VR services in competitive integrated employment (CIE). Of the applicants who were employed at initial IPE, 72.8% remained employed at exit. Stepwise hierarchical logistic regression analysis (HLRA) revealed that public support, employment status at application, education level, long-term unemployment, and six VR services, including diagnosis and treatment, rehabilitation technology, transportation, job placement assistance, maintenance services, other services, and short-term job supports, were significantly associated with employment at exit. Participants receiving short-term job supports were more than four-times more likely to be employed at exit compared to applicants that did not receive this service. The results demonstrate that VR can be an effective employment retention intervention for people living with cancer and underscore the importance of accessing VR services while still employed. Increasing awareness and understanding of VR among people diagnosed with cancer and the health and human resources professionals with whom survivors interact is an important focus. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com.bibliotheek.ehb.be/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]
Descriptors: Cancer, Equal Opportunities (Jobs), Barriers, Vocational Rehabilitation, Educational Needs, Disabilities, Individual Characteristics, Health Insurance, Services, Employment Level, Program Effectiveness, Predictor Variables, Persistence, Unemployment, Correlation
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Publication Type: Dissertations/Theses - Doctoral Dissertations
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A