Interventions, barriers, and facilitators associated with return to work for adults following stroke: a scoping review protocol

Objective: The purpose of this scoping review is to map what has been reported on interventions, barriers, and facilitators associated with return to work for adults with and without communication disorders following a stroke. Introduction: Difficulties in returning to work following a stroke can have a significant impact on people's lives, not only in terms of the individual's finances (and the economy as a whole), but also in terms of the person's psychosocial adjustment, for example, their sense of role and purpose and their self-esteem. This scoping review aims to map the literature examining interventional approaches, barriers, and facilitators relevant to this topic. Inclusion criteria: This review will include literature on the return to work for adults aged 16 years or older who have had a stroke. It will be restricted to research conducted in developed countries. Methods: Databases that will be searched include MEDLINE, CINAHL, Embase, AMED, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, PEDRo, and OTSeeker. Gray literature or unpublished studies will be searched in OpenGrey and ProQuest Dissertations and Theses, as well as professional bodies and organizations whose remit includes stroke and vocational rehabilitation. The search will be limited to studies written in English since 2010. Titles and abstracts will be screened by two independent reviewers and full-text articles assessed against the inclusion criteria by two independent reviewers. Data will be extracted and the findings will be presented in tabular and graphical format along with a narrative summary.