• Mary Stergiou-Kita, Deirdre Dawson, and Susan Rappolt.
• Graduate Department of Rehabilitation Science, University of Toronto, 160-500 University Ave., Toronto, ON M5G 1V7, Canada. mary.kita@utoronto.ca
• J Occup Rehabil. 2012 Jun 1;22(2):166-81.

IntroductionThis paper introduces an inter-professional clinical practice guideline for vocational evaluation following traumatic brain injury. This guideline aims to explicate the processes and factors relevant to vocational evaluation to assist evaluators (i.e. health care teams, individuals and employers) in collaboratively determining if clients are able to work and to make recommendations for work entry, re-entry or vocational planning.MethodsMethods in the Canadian Medical Association's (CMA) Handbook on Clinical Practice Guideline and the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation (AGREE) instrument were utilized to ensure rigour. Steps in the CMA handbook were followed and included: (1) identifying the guideline's objective and questions; (2) systematic literature review; (3) study selection and quality appraisal; (4) development of clear recommendations by key stakeholders; (5) guideline pilot testing and endorsement.ResultsThe resulting guideline includes 17 key recommendations within the seven domains: (1) evaluation purpose and rationale; (2) initial intake process; (3) assessment of the personal domain; (4) assessment of the environment; (5) assessment of occupational/job requirements; (6) analysis and synthesis; (7) evaluation recommendations.ConclusionsThe guideline may be useful to individually practicing clinicians, health care teams, employers and individuals with TBI. Future research will formally examine the success of the guideline's implementation.

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