Perception of Employment by the Veterans Participating in the National Veterans Wheelchair Games: A Survey Study

Abstract

Background: Employment in those with disability is an important rehabilitation goal, along with achieving some measure of functional independence and is at the same time one of the most difficult goals to achieve. The number of people with disabilities participating in adaptive sports has been increasing steadily over the years. A few studies have looked at the relationship between physical fitness and employment status in those with disability, but there have been no studies that focused on the results of organized adaptive sports events affecting employment outcome.

Objective: To determine whether participation in the National Veterans Wheelchair Games (NVWG) has a positive impact on employment in those with disability.

Study design: Prospective, cross-sectional survey.

Setting: 2015 NVWG in Dallas, Texas (nonclinic setting).

Participants: A total of 338 survey participants; 36 surveys were excluded due to incompletion.

Methods: Veterans who participated at the 2015 NVWG were given the opportunity to complete a 2-page survey. Survey participants received $5.00 gift card as compensation.

Main outcome measurements: Percentage of those who perceived NVWG made a difference in attaining employment, risk ratio analyses.

Results: A total of 50% of the participants stated that the NVWG made a difference in attaining employment. Those currently working were 1.5 times more likely to say that the NVWG had a positive effect on employment than those not currently working (P < .01). Those who felt that the NVWG had a positive effect on employment attended 3-4 more wheelchair games on average than those reporting that the NVWG did not have an impact on employment (P < .001). Positive responses were obtained from the Likert scale distribution.

Conclusions: Our study suggests that participating in the NVWG provides psychosocial support to the veterans and may have a positive influence in employment outcomes.

Level of evidence: III.