Vocational Counseling Research Articles

Relation Between Inpatient and Postdischarge Services and Outcomes 1 Year Postinjury in People With Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury

ObjectiveTo examine the association between inpatient and postdischarge rehabilitation services and function, life satisfaction, and community participation 1 year after spinal cord injury (SCI). DesignProspective, observational. SettingSix rehabilitation facilities. ParticipantsPatients with SCI (N=1376). InterventionsNone. Main Outcome MeasuresSatisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS), Craig Handicap Assessment and Reporting Technique (CHART), motor FIM (mFIM), and return to work/school at 1 year post-SCI. ResultsDemographic and injury characteristics explained 49% of the variance in mFIM and 9% to 25% of the variance in SWLS and CHART social integration, mobility, and occupation scores. Inpatient rehabilitation services explained an additional 2% of the variance for mFIM and 1% to 3% of the variance for SWLS and CHART scores. More time in inpatient physical therapy (PT) was associated with higher mFIM scores; more time in inpatient therapeutic recreation (TR) and social work and more postdischarge nursing (NSG) were associated with lower mFIM scores. More inpatient PT and TR and more postdischarge PT were associated with higher mobility scores; more inpatient psychology (PSY) was associated with lower mobility scores. More postdischarge TR was associated with higher SWLS; more postdischarge PSY services was associated with lower SWLS. Inpatient TR was positively associated with social integration scores; postdischarge PSY was negatively associated with social integration scores. More postdischarge vocational counseling was associated with higher occupation scores. Differences between centers did not explain additional variability in the outcomes studied. ConclusionsInpatient and postdischarge rehabilitation services are weakly associated with life satisfaction and societal participation 1 year after SCI. Further study of the type and intensity of postdischarge services, and the association with outcomes, is needed to ascertain the most effective use of therapy services after SCI.

The Effect of Group Counseling Program on 8th Grade Students’ Vocational Competence Levels

This study was carried on to determine the effect of vocational group counseling program on the vocational competence levels of the 8th grade students. The study was conducted on 128 students from Erzurum Kocatepe Elementary School in 2011-2012 education years. Vocational Competence Scale developed by Bozgeyikli (2004) was used to gather data in the study. Volunteer 30 students that got lower marks from the scale randomly divided into experimental and control groups. Each group is formed of 15 students. Group counseling program was applied on the experimental group for 8 weeks to improve vocational competence levels of the students. Any operation was not carried on control group. t test for unrelated sample and One-Factor ANCOVA for related sample were used in the analysis of the data. The data was analyzed by using SPSS 20.00. According to the results of the study, it is determined that the vocational competence levels of the students participated in the vocational competence counseling program increased meaningfully compared to the control group and their pre-experimental situation. Besides, it is determined that this change occurred independently from the age, sex and socio-economic level variables.

Teachers’ professional development: The case of Lithuania

Lifelong learning paradigm raises higher requirements for a teacher: quality and effectiveness are the two key words defining the general education policy of the EU and the main objectives of the current period. Today teachers are required to be able to work in a multicultural environment, flexibly respond and adapt to changes, individualise and differentiate the content of education, and pursue various social functions (such as vocational counseling, conflict management, mediation etc.). Besides high professional requirements teachers are also required to participate in the continuous/further learning process including formal/nonformal professional development, selfeducation, and studies in state and private vocational training organisations not only within the framework of education but also in other spheres. The following question have been raised in the article: how the process of teachers’ professional development is organised in Lithuania?

TEORIJSKO UTEMELJENJE RAČUNALNIH SUSTAVA ZA PROFESIONALNO SAVJETOVANJE

The paper examines modern computer-assisted career guidance systems, their main characteristics, as well as their theoretical foundation. First we describe the development of systems for computer-assisted career guidance, with the emphasis on the current generation of on-line counseling systems. Then the concept of congruence or person-environment fit is explained: the individuals who have chosen careers which are in accordance with their personal characteristics are more likely to be both satisfied with their jobs and successful at work. Although the concept of congruence is the main basis of theories of vocational choice and computer-assisted career guidance systems, the results of all important meta-analyses show a weak relationship between P-E congruence and job satisfaction. Possible explanations for this finding are identified and the aspect- -based approach is presented as a possible solution. Finally, seven best-known on-line systems for vocational counseling are described: Discover, SIGI, O*Net, Making Better Career Decisions, Careers Guide, Career Choice and Pictorial and Descriptive Interest Inventory.

Vocational counselling of students with special educational needs from the viewpoint of principals of mainstream schools

It is especially important to appropriately prepare students with special educational needs for labour activity. The integration of these students in vocational life is possible only through the improvement of labour education and vocational counselling. The article analyzes vocational counselling of students with special educational needs from the viewpoint of principals of mainstream schools. Their viewpoint towards vocational counselling for persons with special educational needs has been revealed; it has been analyzed how vocational counselling for students with special educational needs is provided in mainstream schools; the principals’ infl uence on vocational counselling of students with special educational needs has been investigated.

Social and professional representations of autonomy amongst vocational counsellors

L’etude vise a mettre en evidence que l'autonomie est un objet de representations sociales pour les acteurs de l’orientation. Des conseillers d’orientation psychologues, des conseillers en insertion et des conseillers en bilan de competences expriment leurs points de vue, puis celui des professionnels de l’orientation et des usagers. Leurs discours font ressortir l’importance qu’ils accordent de maniere consensuelle a la prise de conscience comme moyen de rendre compte de l’autonomie en orientation. Les representations propres a chaque acteur rendent compte de conceptions distinctes et s’ancrent de maniere secondaire dans une approche individualiste de la personne.

The Work Instability Scale Predicts Absenteeism in People With Gout and Suggests a Higher Risk for Those in Manual Occupations

Gout occurs in working-age people and may be associated with significant work disability. There are no longitudinal studies to examine risk factors for work disability in people with gout. The purpose of this study was to determine the validity of the Work Instability Scale (WIS) in patients with gout and to see if baseline WIS scores predicted future work absences. We conducted a longitudinal, cohort study with patients who had gout for less than 10 years. Sick leave over the previous 3 months was recorded by patient recall at baseline and at 12 months. Self-report health status measures and disease characteristics including C-reactive protein and serum urate were measured at baseline. Work Instability Scale scores were fitted to a Rasch model, and nonparametric statistics were used to determine associations between disease features or future sick leave and WIS scores. One hundred seventy-six participants were recruited, and follow-up information was available for 133 (76%). The WIS instrument showed satisfactory internal, construct, and predictive validity. Participants in nonmanual occupations had lower (better) WIS scores (median, 0 vs. 5.5; P < 0.001). Only 7% of working participants reported any sick leave in the 3 months before the 12-month follow-up. Work Instability Scale scores were associated with future sick leave: a cutoff of 4.5 was found to have the best combined sensitivity (88%) and specificity (72%) for predicting at least 1 day of sick leave. The WIS instrument can identify people with gout who have a higher risk of future work disability and might be a useful guide to targeted vocational counseling or job modification, especially in people in manual occupations. However, further research is required to confirm these findings and to refine the instrument for optimal performance in this population.

장애인 직업평가를 위한 모바일 적성검사 시스템의 설계 및 구현

직업재활은 장애인이 직업을 통하여 비장애인과 동일한 삶을 영위하게 돕는 과정으로 정확한 직업평가를 통해 수행된다. 이러한 직업평가의 전통적인 방법은 평가도구를 사용하거나 상담 등을 이용한다. 하지만 전통적인 방법에서 사용되는 평가도구들은 일반 사용자들이 사용하기에는 고가이며, 이러한 평가도구를 사용하기 위해서는 보유하고 있는 장애인시설로 이동해야하는 불편함이 있다. 따라서 최근 꾸준히 보급되어 2012년 이용자수가 3천만명을 돌파할 것으로 예상되는 스마트폰을 사용하여 장애인이 직접 직업평가를 수행하는 경우에 시 공간에 제약을 받지 않아 매우 효율적이다. 본 논문에서는 스마트폰용 운영체제의 일종인 안드로이드환경에서 장애인들을 대상으로 직업평가를 수행할 수 있는 모바일 적성검사 시스템을 설계하고 구현한다. 직업평가 도구로서는 전 세계적으로 진로지도와 상담에서 가장 많이 사용되고 있는 홀랜드 검사를 바탕으로 구현한다. Vocational rehabilitation is defined as a process which helps people with disabilities to maintain life of non-disabled people and vocational assessment is a part of it. Traditionally, vocational assessment is performed through using of assessment tools or vocational counseling, but assessment tools are very expensive and we should move to the facilities for the disabled. It is very efficient to apply vocational assessment to people with disabilities using the smart phones which users are expected to surpass thirty million in 2012, because it enables them to access anytime and anywhere. In this paper, we design and implement the mobile aptitude test system on android smart phone OS for people with disabilities. We develop the mobile aptitude test system using the Holland Test which is the assessment tool of career guidance and counseling.

Treatment Outcomes for Workers Compensation Patients in a US‐Based Interdisciplinary Pain Management Program

Assess the efficacy of an outpatient-based interdisciplinary pain rehabilitation program for patients with active workers compensation claims. Data were available for 101 patients, primarily with chronic low back pain (75%), who participated in the program. Treatment included a 4-week (Monday to Friday), 8-hours/day graded progressive program that included individual and group therapies (pain psychology, physical therapy, occupational therapy, relaxation training/biofeedback, aerobic conditioning, pool therapy, vocational counseling, patient education and medical management). Outcome measures included program completion status, release-to-work status, return-to-work status, total scores on the Beck depression inventory, state-trait anxiety inventory, pain catastrophizing scale, and the McGill pain questionnaire visual analogue scale (MPQ VAS). The majority of the patients (65%) graduated from the program. Pre-postoutcome data were available for those who graduated from the program. For noncompleters, last obtained MPQ VAS was compared with their initial MPQ VAS scores. Of those completing the program, most patients (91%)were released to return to work; with 80% released to full-time status and 11% released to gradual return. Approximately half (49%) of the program completers returned to work. Paired-samples t-tests showed that program completers had significant reductions in depression (P = 0.000), pain-related catastrophizing (P = 0.033), and pain intensity (P = 0.000), but not in anxiety (P = 0.098). Interestingly, the last obtained (at early discharge/withdrawal) pain intensity scores (M = 70.33) were higher than at baseline (M = 61.20) in the noncompleters. This difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.127) but may be clinically meaningful. Our results support the efficacy of an outpatient-based 4-week interdisciplinary pain rehabilitation program in decreasing emotional distress, reducing pain intensity, and improving return-to-work status in the majority of completers in this challenging population. Patients reporting increased pain at discharge or those discharged early may have been due to operant factors.

Student health-care workers with cystic fibrosis: a review of recommendations for students on clinical placement

Student health-care workers (sHCW) with cystic fibrosis (CF) on clinical placement pose unique infection control issues, with potential acquisition and transmission of multi-resistant pathogens between sHCW and patients. We reviewed existing Australian infectious diseases policies and guidelines for sHCW and published data on the potential infection control risks posed by sHCW with CF in this setting. Current consensus infectious diseases guidelines for sHCW address blood-borne viruses but do not address CF, and the management of sHCW with CF is controversial. While the potential risk of nosocomial transmission of multi-resistant organisms such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus, both to and from sHCW with CF is acknowledged, there have been no reports of HCW with CF-linked with outbreaks. Given the recognised risk, sHCW with CF will more than likely require modifications to their learning programs while on clinical placement to allow them to complete their studies and adequately prepare them for a range of practice in their chosen profession, while minimising risk to both patients and themselves. Universities organising clinical placement for sHCW with CF are obliged to provide vocational and academic counselling as early into the course as possible. Limited disclosure of the status of the sHCW with CF to direct clinical supervisors and infection control is essential in order to observe duty of care towards the student as well as ensuring the safety of the patients.

Holistic approach to the vocational counselling of students with special education needs

Vocational counselling is the first and one of the most important stages of prevocational education of pupils with SEN that has influence on successful integration into the labour market and human socialization. In the article the parameters of the ideal model of vocational counselling of pupils with SEN have been analyzed. In identifying the criteria of vocational counselling of pupils with SEN it has been referred to the model of systemic analysis constructed by Le Moigne, described by Baranauskienė, Juodraitis (2008), and in which 5 approaches towards successful participation of persons with disabilities in the labour market have been singled out: approaches towards success from the aspect of structure, aims, influence of environment, development, activity. In the article the data obtained during the research of the Delphi group during which the experts from 12 different countries having scientific and practical work experience of work with pupils with SEN present their approaches towards what criteria should be followed in vocational counselling of pupils with SEN have been analyzed and systemized.

The influence of subjective life expectancy on retirement transition and planning: A longitudinal study

This study examines the construct of subjective life expectancy (SLE), or the estimation of one's probable age of death. Drawing on the tenets of socioemotional selectivity theory (Carstensen, Isaacowitz, & Charles, 1999), we propose that SLE provides individuals with their own unique mental model of remaining time that is likely to affect their retirement planning and decision making. Longitudinal data from 1908 participants showed that SLE measured at Time 1 predicted mature-aged workers' intended retirement age and the extent that they were engaged in retirement preparation 12months later at Time 2. Furthermore, a shorter SLE at Time 1 increased the odds of actual retirement by Time 2 after controlling for a set of known predictors of retirement. In contrast, a longer SLE at Time 1 increased the odds that a Time 1 retiree had returned to paid work by Time 2. The discussion highlights ways in which SLE can inform financial and vocational counselling for late career decision-makers.

Mothers Without Borders

This article describes Mothers Without Borders a nonprofit organization that sponsors a home for vulnerable children ranging from five to eighteen years of age and mostly orphaned because of HIV/AIDS in Zambia. Mothers Without Borders provides shelter food clothing access to healthcare the opportunity to learn English education and vocational training and counseling.

Vocational Rehabilitation (VR): A Young Adult’s Guide [English and Spanish versions

Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Agencies are located in every US state. VR helps people with physical or mental health disabilities achieve employment and live independently by offering vocational counseling and related individualized services. This tip sheet explains how young adults with serious mental health conditions can take advantage of the VR services in their state. A Spanish translation of this publication is available for download. Originally published as: Transitions RTC, The Word on Work, Tip Sheet 6, April 2012.

Observational Studies versus Randomized Controlled Trials of Behavioral Interventions in Field Settings

This article considers research designs that evaluate outcomes of behavioral interventions in field settings. It focuses on differences in efficacy estimates between observational studies (OSs) and randomized controlled trials (RCTs). The article contends that pretreatment motivation and in-treatment compliance both contribute to treatment outcomes. It proposes a 3-variable causal model in which pretreatment motivation produces positive treatment outcomes directly, and also indirectly, via in-treatment compliance. The article challenges the common notion that RCTs represent the gold standard in designs for evaluating the efficacy of behavioral interventions in field settings. The article's causal model predicts that OSs governed by self-assignment and RCTs of the same behavioral interventions both yield biased estimates of efficacy, although these effect-size biases are generally in opposite directions. OS estimates of efficacy are typically too large because of group differences in pretreatment motivation favoring the treated group over the untreated group. RCT efficacy estimates are typically too small because noncompliance in treatment conditions dilutes the impact of field interventions. Taken together, motivation and compliance thus account for the 2 expected efficacy biases: overestimation of effect sizes in OSs and underestimation in RCTs. Accordingly, the causal model predicts that, under most conditions, OSs will generate larger effect sizes than RCTs and thus a higher proportion of significant results. The article examines published outcome evaluations in 3 psychological domains: vocational counseling, precollege academic programs and home-visiting programs. Consistent with the model's directional prediction, studies in all 3 domains document a systematic efficacy difference between OSs and RCTs.

New technology and career development in vocational guidance and career counseling: what is the challenge?

This work aims to present the emerging challenge of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) for career development in vocational guidance and career counseling. Based on the new paradigm for the 21st century, Life Designing Counseling, the use of ICT is suggested as favoring flexible and dynamic career construction processes. Various instruments for career counseling online are presented, the theme of accessibility is discussed in terms of cost/effectiveness of career service to prevent the risk of unintentional social injustice and to favor a greater correspondence between career services and the needs of individuals. This work permits an in depth study of the complexity of ICT, with the aims of understanding its opportunities and limits, offering new perspectives in research and intervention.

To work or not to work: labour market participation of people with spinal cord injury living in Switzerland

Cross-sectional survey. To establish labour market participation figures of persons with spinal cord injury (SCI) living in Switzerland and to investigate determinants and consequences of having paid work. Community. A survey among members of the Swiss Paraplegic Association was performed in 2008. Inclusion criteria were: SCI of traumatic or non-traumatic origin, minimum age of 18 years, and living in the community for at least 1 year. A total of 559 persons with SCI returned the questionnaire (response rate 27%), of which 495 (24%) fulfilled the eligibility criteria. Bivariate and logistic regression analyses were performed based on theoretical considerations and relevant determinants found in the literature. Of the respondents of working age, 63.8% were involved in gainful employment. No significant difference between persons with para- and tetraplegia was observed. Logistic regression showed that employment was associated with age, time since onset of SCI, having worked at 2 years after initial rehabilitation, having received vocational counselling, having less pain, more years of education and more perceived importance of work. Working persons achieved a significantly higher total income. The most important reasons to work were not financial, but rather of social nature. Barriers to work were primarily health-related. We found a relatively high employment rate among the studied persons with SCI living in Switzerland. However, because of the low response, it is difficult to generalise this finding.

Vocational interests of intellectually gifted and highly achieving young adults

Vocational interests play a central role in the vocational decision-making process and are decisive for the later job satisfaction and vocational success. Based on Ackerman's (1996) notion of trait complexes, specific interest profiles of gifted high-school graduates can be expected. Vocational interests of gifted and highly achieving adolescents were compared to those of their less intelligent/achieving peers according to Holland's (1997) RIASEC model. Further, the impact of intelligence and achievement on interests were analysed while statistically controlling for potentially influencing variables. Changes in interests over time were investigated. N= 4,694 German students (age: M= 19.5, SD= .80; 54.6% females) participated in the study (TOSCA; Köller, Watermann, Trautwein, & Lüdtke, 2004). Interests were assessed in participants' final year at school and again 2 years later (N= 2,318). Gifted participants reported stronger investigative and realistic interests, but lower social interests than less intelligent participants. Highly achieving participants reported higher investigative and (in wave 2) higher artistic interests. Considerable gender differences were found: gifted girls had a flat interest profile, while gifted boys had pronounced realistic and investigative and low social interests. Multilevel multiple regression analyses predicting interests by intelligence and school achievement revealed stable interest profiles. Beyond a strong gender effect, intelligence and school achievement each contributed substantially to the prediction of vocational interests. At the time around graduation from high school, gifted young adults show stable interest profiles, which strongly differ between gender and intelligence groups. These differences are relevant for programmes for the gifted and for vocational counselling.

Absence of Essential Integrated Services within Traditional Substance Abuse Treatment

Absence of Essential Integrated Services within Traditional Substance Abuse Treatment Is the need for integrated services within traditional substance abuse treatment being ignored? Traditional substance abuse treatment lacks an integrated component in which a client would receive mental health counseling and vocational counseling in addition to substance abuse counseling. According to the Treatment Improvement Protocol (TIP) 38, developed by CSAT a part of the Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), research has shown that predictors of substance abuse treatment completion include successful employment, family support, and lack of coexisting mental illness. Biegel, Beimers, Stevenson, and Boyle (2009) purport that people with co-occurring disorders experience higher rates of unemployment.

The Relationship between the Professional Models of the Parents and the Adult Professional Route of their Children

The purpose of this work was to determine if those whose parents are working especially, in professions involving direct contact with people are more inclined to prefer the social sciences field and finding out if the professional models of the parents are a strong reason in sons and daughters choices. A brief overview of the relationship between research related to the professional models of the parents (patterns of original families) and the professional route of their adult children provide useful information and help in the vocational counseling and in the psychotherapy.