Kidney Transplant Patient Employment: Vocational Training and Intervention by Use of an Impairment Rather Than Disability Model—The Job Club

Abstract

The present study is an attempt to test an intervention model that evaluates the impairment assessment model. N=342 kidney patients followed at a major Southwestern transplant program who had been transplanted from 2005–2009 were contacted. A total of N=27 unemployed kidney transplant recipients volunteered to participate in the Job Club Vocational Rehabilitation Program that was especially developed in a psychoeducational model in conjunction with local representatives of the state department of vocational rehabilitation services to address the needs of kidney transplant recipients. From pre- to post-Job Club there was significant (p<0.05) improvement in their knowledge gain with minimal changes in their social support and self-esteem. Quality of life improved in all areas, but saw significant improvement in role-physical and general health. Patients were able to secure a significant number of jobs in a vocational program done in a psychoeducational group setting that had the ability to both get patients back to work and do so without major life disruptions to their self-esteem or increased anxiety. There has also been an ongoing interest among patients and staff about vocational rehabilitation services.