Customized Employment for Veterans With Spinal Cord Injury (ACCESS-Vets)

January 31, 2024 updated by: VA Office of Research and Development

Achieving Competitive Customized Employment Through Specialized Services - Veterans: ACCESS-VETS

The reason for conducting this study is to learn about the best ways to help Veterans with spinal cord injury (SCI) gain meaningful employment. Spinal cord injury is a medically complex disability that poses unique barriers to employment for Veterans. Returning to work after SCI improves health and quality of life, which in turn can lower risk for suicide in this high-risk population. Hence, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) supports interventions that help Veterans with SCI return to work and may prevent suicide.

Customized employment (CE) is an innovative strategy for tailoring vocational services to meet the needs of people with complex disabilities. To address barriers to employment faced by Veterans with SCI, this study will evaluate whether a customized employment intervention used in non-VA settings can be adapted for use by the VA as a part of SCI medical rehabilitation. The research goal is to evaluate how a CE intervention for Veterans with SCI (ACCESS-Vets) can help them discover their strengths to find and maintain competitive integrated employment in their communities. This study will compare ACCESS-Vets with the usual evidence-based supported employment program, known as Individual Placement and Support (IPS).

Veterans with SCI who chose to participate in this study will be randomly selected (i.e. by chance) to work with a vocational rehabilitation specialist as part of the ACCESS-Vets intervention or the usual IPS employment program for about 8 months. Study participants will complete study questionnaires before, during, and after their participation in the employment interventions. Some Veterans and their medical rehabilitation providers will be interviewed about their experiences with the employment interventions.

The study expects to find that Veterans who participate in ACCESS-Vets will have better employment and quality of life outcomes then those who participate in IPS. The study will provide information about the strategies used in the ACCESS-Vets and IPS interventions for addressing barriers to employment. Ultimately, this study may provide a model for making VA vocational services for Veterans with SCI more effective and sustainable.

Study Overview

Status

Recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

This randomized clinical trial (RCT) will test the effectiveness of a customized employment (CE) intervention, Achieving Competitive Customized Employment through Specialized Services (ACCESS-Vets), to complement clinical services for Veterans with spinal cord injury (SCI) and improve their employment outcomes.

Background: Restoring employment is an important rehabilitation goal for Veterans with SCI because employment impacts both quality of life (QOL) and longevity. Due to the medical complexity of SCI, however, these Veterans face unique employment barriers that are not adequately addressed by current Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) vocational services. Vocational services for Veterans with SCI need to address these employment barriers, which relate to physical health, finances, time for job search, and caregiver issues. Customized employment, an innovative strategy for tailoring vocational services to meet individual needs of people with complex disabilities, could be adapted for use in SCI rehabilitation. This research will evaluate a CE intervention to help Veterans with SCI discover their strengths, customize employment plans, and find competitive integrated employment in their communities. The proposed intervention, ACCESS, is a user-driven, standardized CE program delivered by a trained employment specialist and is effective for a non-clinical, community-based population of adults with disabilities. This research is needed to test ACCESS as a complement to clinical services for a clinically defined population and to assess the potential of CE for subsequent implementation in the VA.

Research Plan: The effectiveness of ACCESS-Vets will be tested with an RCT of 100 Veterans with SCI. The study will have a rolling enrollment period with an intervention period of 26 months. ACCESS-Vets is typically completed in 8 months and includes the following elements: discovery, CE planning, job development, CE negotiation, and accommodations and job retention supports. Individual Placement and Support (IPS), otherwise known as evidence-based supported employment, will serve as an active control group consistent with treatment as usual. ACCESS-Vets and IPS will be compared on changes in employment attainment. The investigators predict Veterans who participate in ACCESS-Vets will have a higher employment rate than Veterans who receiving IPS. Among Veterans who attain employment, the investigators predict those who received ACCESS-Vets will report higher job satisfaction, wages, and retention. The investigators predict, Veterans who attain employment will demonstrate statistically significant improvements in self-sufficiency, QOL, and participation in life roles compared with those who do not attain employment. Finally, qualitative interviews with Veterans and their providers will identify strategies used in IPS and ACCESS-Vets for addressing barriers to employment and how practitioners adapt the ACCESS-Vets intervention for use in a VA clinical setting.

Significance: This study is responsive to Veterans' reported desire for individualized vocational rehabilitation services and to the Modernization Plan and the MISSION Act, which emphasize Veteran-centered, community-based approaches to care. The proposal goals align with the Transformation Plan of the Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention, which prioritizes evidence-informed, community-based employment services. Recognizing the rapid adoption of CE in state and federal agencies, VA is partnering with the Office of Disability and Employment Policy (U.S. Department of Labor) to introduce and train VA vocational staff on CE as a promising practice; however, integration of CE into standard VA clinical services has not yet been implemented. In support of VA efforts to assist Veterans to achieve competitive employment and reintegration into civilian life, this proposal will evaluate CE within the context of existing VA vocational services.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

100

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact Backup

Study Locations

  • United States
    • Florida
      • Tampa, Florida, United States, 33612
        • Recruiting
        • James A. Haley Veterans' Hospital, Tampa, FL
        • Contact:
        • Contact:
        • Principal Investigator:
          • Lisa Ottomanelli, PhD
    • Virginia
      • Richmond, Virginia, United States, 23249
        • Recruiting
        • Hunter Holmes McGuire VA Medical Center, Richmond, VA
        • Contact:
        • Contact:

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years to 65 years (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

Veteran inclusion criteria

  • English-Speaking Veterans
  • 18 years of age or older
  • Want to find work in their community
  • Have received or are currently receiving IPS VA provider inclusion criteria
  • CE providers and other clinical providers on the SCI interdisciplinary team and other stakeholders.

Exclusion Criteria:

Veteran exclusion criteria

  • Living more than a two hours drive from the VAMC
  • Progressive spinal cord disorder or terminal diagnosis, e.g., multiple sclerosis
  • Moderate to severe traumatic brain injury or Rancho Level of 6 or less on discharge from acute rehabilitation,
  • Diagnosis of or documented treatment for psychosis in previous 6 months
  • Untreated substance use disorder
  • Visual, hearing, or cognitive impairment preventing consent or ability to participate in essential elements of the intervention VA provider exclusion criteria
  • Providers who do not meet inclusion criteria

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Health Services Research
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: ACCESS-Vets Intervention Group
This group will receive ACCESS-Vets, a customized employment intervention adapted for use in VA healthcare.
Behavioral: ACCESS
ACCESS-Vets is a customized employment intervention adapted for use in VA healthcare to help Veterans with SCI achieve competitive integrated employment. ACCESS-Vets includes the following elements: discovery, customized employment planning, job development, customized employment negotiation, and accommodations and job retention supports.
Active Comparator: IPS (Usual Care) Group
This group will receive IPS (Individual Placement and Support), the usual evidence-based supported employment program in VA.
Behavioral: IPS
IPS is an evidenced-based practice of supported employment that helps persons with disabilities find and maintain integrated competitive employment. IPS follows eight standardized principles: zero exclusion, integrated services, rapid job search, competitive employment, worker preferences, systematic job development, benefits planning, and time-unlimited supports.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change in Employment Status
Time Frame: 6, 9 12 months
This questionnaire is administered by study staff and documents whether Competitive Integrated Employment is achieved.
6, 9 12 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change in Employment Satisfaction, Wages, Retention
Time Frame: 6, 9, 12 months
Employee satisfaction survey and Employment questionnaire are administered by study staff to document job satisfaction, wages, and retention. The investigators will continue to collect data for the employed group until the investigators will have 3 post-employment time points or until the data collection period ends
6, 9, 12 months
Change in Quality of Life- Ability to Participate in Social Roles and Activities (SRA)
Time Frame: Baseline, 6, 9 12 months
SCI-QOL Scale subset assesses participation in social roles and activities (Short Form-10 items). Item responses range from 1 (Never) to 5 (always) with a min score of 10 and a max score of 50. Higher score indicated higher QOL for Ability to Participate in SRA.
Baseline, 6, 9 12 months
Change in Quality of Life- Satisfaction with SRA
Time Frame: Baseline, 6, 9, 12 months
SCI-QOL Scale subset assesses satisfaction with social roles and activities (SRA). (SF -10 items) Item responses range from 1 (Not at All) to 5 (Very Much) with a min score of 10 and a max score of 50. Higher score indicated higher QOL for satisfaction with SRA.
Baseline, 6, 9, 12 months
Changes in Quality of Life- Independence
Time Frame: Baseline, 6, 9, 12, months
SCI-QOL Scale subset assesses independence (SF - 8 items). Item responses range from 1 (Never) to 5 (Always) with a min score of 8 and a max score of 40. Higher score indicates higher QOL in regards to independence.
Baseline, 6, 9, 12, months
Change in Quality of Life- Positive Affect and Well-being
Time Frame: Baseline, 6, 9, 12 months
SCI-QOL Scale subset integrates constructs of positive affect and emotional well-being into SCI research and clinical practice (SF- 10 items). Item responses range from 1 (Never) to 5 (Always) with a min score of 10 and a max score of 50. Higher score indicates higher QOL for positive affect and well-being.
Baseline, 6, 9, 12 months
Change in Quality of Life- Self Esteem
Time Frame: Baseline, 6, 9, 12 months
SCI-QOL Scale subset assesses cognitive, emotional, and evaluative perceptions of the self (SF- 8 items). Item responses range from 1 (Never) to 5 (Always) with a min score of 8 and a max score of 40. Higher score indicates higher QOL in regards to Self esteem.
Baseline, 6, 9, 12 months
Change in Self-sufficiency - Employment Hope Scale (EHS) SF-14
Time Frame: Baseline, 6, 9, 12 months
EHS is a 14-item measures psychological empowerment (4 items), futuristic self-motivation (2 items), utilization of skills and resources (4 items), and goal orientation (4 items) for career attainment. Items are ranked from 0 (strongly disagree) to 10 (strongly agree). Min score is 0 and maximum score of 140. Higher score indicates increased hope for employment.
Baseline, 6, 9, 12 months
Change in Self-Sufficiency- Perceived Barrier Scale (PEBS)
Time Frame: Baseline, 6, 9, 12 months
PEBS is a 27-item Likert-type scale assessing extent to which job seekers perceive various barriers as limiting the ability to find a job. Items are scored from 1 (Not a Barrier) to 5 (Strong Barrier) with a minimum score of 27 and a maximum score of 135. A higher score indicated increased perception of barriers limiting ability to find a job.
Baseline, 6, 9, 12 months
Change in Impact on Quality of Life and Participation- Qualitative Interviews Veteran participants
Time Frame: baseline, 6-months, & 12 months
Qualitative interviews will contain open-ended questions about the perceived value of intervention in addressing QOL and participation.
baseline, 6-months, & 12 months
Change in Employment Barriers- Employment Questionnaire
Time Frame: 6, 9, 12 months
Open-ended questions from the Employment Questionnaire on on accommodations, supports, transportation, and barriers at work.
6, 9, 12 months
Change in Employment Barriers- Qualitative Interview -Veteran participants
Time Frame: baseline, 6-months, & 12 months
Qualitative interviews contain open-ended questions about the perceived value of intervention in addressing employment barriers.
baseline, 6-months, & 12 months
Adaption of Intervention- Benchmarks of Quality Checklist (BQC)
Time Frame: Study Months 12, 18, 24 & 30.
Benchmarks of Quality Checklist (BQC) is a structured CE provider form to document ACCESS omissions, modifications, and adaptations. Each item of the employment process is rated as completed, not completed, or partially completed. This form contains sections for staff to describe adaptions to the intervention. At study months 12. 18, 24, & 30, the qualitative researchers will review the BQCs that are completed on each study participant to identify how the intervention was adapted for use in the VA.
Study Months 12, 18, 24 & 30.
Change in Impact on Quality of Life and Participation- Qualitative Interviews Provider participants
Time Frame: After the intervention begins, interviews will occur during the following 3 time periods 0- 9 months, 10-21 months, and 22-33 months
Qualitative interviews with providers will contain open-ended questions about the perceived value of intervention in addressing QOL and participation.
After the intervention begins, interviews will occur during the following 3 time periods 0- 9 months, 10-21 months, and 22-33 months
Change in Employment Barriers- Qualitative Interview -Provider participants
Time Frame: After the intervention begins, interviews will occur during the following 3 time periods 0- 9 months, 10-21 months, and 22-33 months
Qualitative interviews with providers contain open-ended questions about the perceived value of intervention in addressing employment barriers.
After the intervention begins, interviews will occur during the following 3 time periods 0- 9 months, 10-21 months, and 22-33 months

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

VA Office of Research and Development

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Lisa Ottomanelli, PhD, James A. Haley Veterans' Hospital, Tampa, FL

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

February 14, 2022

Primary Completion (Estimated)

September 1, 2024

Study Completion (Estimated)

June 1, 2025

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

March 26, 2021

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

April 1, 2021

First Posted (Actual)

April 6, 2021

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

February 1, 2024

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

January 31, 2024

Last Verified

January 1, 2024

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • D3349-R

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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