Occupational Participation of Persons with Schizophrenia: Exploring Issues of Job-Termination in Supported-Employment

Abstract

Occupational participation in a supported-employment is a rehabilitation strategy to improve both vocational and non-vocational domains of people with psychiatric disabilities, enabling them to access and/or re-enter employment. This study aims to identify the factors associated with unsatisfactory job-termination among the participants of supported-employment to inform future intervention.

A cross-sectional survey was conducted on a group (with a diagnosis of schizophrenia) who participated in a supported-employment program in a large psychiatry institution in Malaysia. Within the first week of job termination, interviews were conducted with three subgroups independently - the participants, the employers and the hospital employment specialists, using the Job-Termination Interview. Factors linked to job-termination and job-accommodation were analysed using univariate and multivariate logistic regression.

Key reasons for job termination were- poor job performance (n = 32; 47.1%), interpersonal issue (n = 31; 45.6%), medical illnesses (n = 30, 44.1%), incompatibilities between work-schedule and environment (n = 30; 44.1%), and job-dissatisfaction (n = 29, 42.6%). Key factor for sustaining job/ job-accommodation was “higher pay” (n = 4; 33.3%). Overall, an unsatisfactory trend of job terminations was observed where many (n = 53; 77.9%) quit their job without a ready job at hand. Unsatisfactory job-terminations were associated with three factors -(i). Enrolment in the Individual Placement-Support (IPS) (Adj. OR = 10.70, 95% CI 1.32-86.98, p = 0.012), (ii). Unstable medical issues (Adj. OR = 22.51, 95% CI 1.74-291.08, p = 0.003), (iii). Interpersonal issues (OR = 18.26, 95% CI: 2.24-149.15, p < 0.001).

Most participants terminated their jobs in an unsatisfactory manner (77.9%). A high 63.2 percent quit their job without another ready-job at hand, while 14.7 percent were fired. Unsatisfactory job-endings were correlated to, poor job-performance, interpersonal problems and medical illnesses. Occupational re-entry intervention program must be tailored to the individual levels and needs, and be fully integrated within the clinical system to ensure job-person-environment fit, in order to improve job-experience and to lower unfavourable job terminations.