Returning to work after acquired brain injury: A mixed method case study

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-16
Author(s):  
Valerie Burke ◽  
Laura O’Rourke ◽  
Emer Duffy

BACKGROUND: Vocation is a meaningful area of rehabilitation after Acquired Brain Injury (ABI). There is a discrepancy between the number of individuals with an ABI who feel able to work and those who are employed in Ireland. Research suggests that Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) programs enhance Return to Work (RTW) outcomes after ABI, however existing literature is limited. OBJECTIVE: This study explores the experience of engaging in VR post ABI, and its impact upon work self-efficacy. METHODS: A mixed methods case study design was selected to represent the individuality of ABI presentations. Participants completed a qualitative interview at VR follow up (N = 2) and the Work Self-Efficacy Inventory at pre/post VR. RESULTS: Four overarching themes emerged including Stigma, Adjustment, Support and Readiness. RTW challenges included fatigue, accepting support, adjusting to work and stigma. RTW benefits included routine, pride in work, skills development, and empowerment. Wilcoxon signed rank indicated that work self-efficacy scores mildly improved post VR. CONCLUSIONS: This research may inform VR Programs and offers pragmatic clinical implications based on the data. Future research should consider the role that readiness plays in facilitating RTW. Limitations include sample size, a lack of longitudinal data and control group.

Medicina ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 57 (2) ◽  
pp. 122
Author(s):  
Marta Pérez-Rodríguez ◽  
Saleky García-Gómez ◽  
Javier Coterón ◽  
Juan José García-Hernández ◽  
Javier Pérez-Tejero

Background and objectives: Acquired brain injury (ABI) is the first cause of disability and physical activity (PA) is a key element in functional recovery and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) during the subacute and chronic phases. However, it is necessary to develop PA programs that respond to the heterogeneity and needs of this population. The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of a PA program on the HRQoL in this population. Materials and Methods: With regard to recruitment, after baseline evaluations, participants were assigned to either the intervention group (IG, n = 38) or the control group (CG, n = 35). Functional capacity, mood, quality of life and depression were measured pre- and post-intervention. The IG underwent the “Physical Activity and Sport for Acquired Brain Injury” (PASABI) program, which was designed to improve HRQoL (1-h sessions, two to four sessions/week for 18 weeks). The CG underwent a standard rehabilitation program without PA. Results: Results for the IG indicated significant differences and large effect sizes for the physical and mental dimensions of quality of life, as well as mood and functional capacity, indicating an increase in HRQoL. No significant differences were found for the CG across any variables. Conclusions: The PASABI program was feasible and beneficial for improving physiological and functionality variables in the IG. The wide range of the activities of the PASABI program allow its application to a large number of people with ABI, promoting health through PA, especially in the chronic phase.


Author(s):  
Judith M. Burnfield ◽  
Guilherme M. Cesar ◽  
Thad W. Buster

PURPOSE: Walking, fitness, and balance deficits are common following acquired brain injury (ABI). This study assessed feasibility, acceptability, and usefulness of a modified motor-assisted elliptical (ICARE) in addressing walking, fitness, and balance deficits in children with chronic ABIs. METHODS: Three children (>  5 years post-ABI) completed 24 ICARE exercise sessions (exercise time, speed, and time overriding motor-assistance gradually increased) to promote mass repetition of gait-like movements and challenge cardiorespiratory fitness. Parents’ and children’s perceptions of ICARE’s safety, comfort, workout, and usability were assessed. Cardiovascular response, gait and balance outcomes were assessed. RESULTS: No adverse events occurred. Parent’s Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) scores of perceived device safety (range 80–99), workout (range 99–100), and usability (range 75–100) were high, while comfort were 76–80 given commercial harness fit and arm support. Children’s VAS scores all exceeded 89. Comfortable walking velocity, 2-Minute Walk Test, fitness, and Pediatric Balance Scale scores improved post-training, with many outcomes surpassing established minimal clinically important differences. CONCLUSION: Following engagement in moderate- to vigorous-intensity exercise promoting repetitive step-like movements on a specially adapted motor-assisted elliptical, three children with chronic ABI demonstrated improvements in walking, fitness and balance. Future research in community-based environments with a larger cohort of children with ABI is needed.


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
Cathy Catroppa ◽  
Edith Botchway ◽  
Nicholas P. Ryan ◽  
Vicki Anderson ◽  
Elle Morrison ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Attention and memory deficits are common following paediatric acquired brain injury (ABI). However, there are few evidence-based interventions to improve these domains and benefit the everyday life of children post-injury. The Amsterdam Memory and Attention Training for children (Amat-c) has been translated from Dutch to English and shown to improve attention and memory skills in children following ABI. This protocol describes a study to expand accessibility of the program by using online, clinician-supported delivery with children post-ABI. Method/design: The study is a randomized controlled trial. Participants will be 40 children aged 8–16 a minimum of one-year post-ABI. Participants in the treatment group will complete 18 weekly sessions of the Amat-c program with weekly online clinician support. Participants in the active-control group will be administered ABI psychoeducation via a booklet for parents, with weekly online clinician contact. Attention and memory will be assessed at three time points up to six months post-intervention. Results: Analysis will be repeated measures multivariate planned comparisons; using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (IBM SPSS Statistics) General Linear Model procedure will compare pre- and post-intervention and six-month follow-up outcomes. Discussion: If shown efficacious in improving attention and memory, our team will then take a key role in implementing Amat-c into clinical care.


Author(s):  
Stephanie Baxa

With students losing hope when faced with challenges in the classroom, daily student-involved formative assessment that contributes to a growth mindset is essential. Through self-assessment and dialogue, students can generate feedback used for improvement of their writing, and teachers can give feedback that fosters self-efficacy. The purpose of this qualitative multi-case study was to explore the growth of fifth-grade writers as they participated in self-assessment, writing conferences with their teacher, and story revision. Research questions focused on students’ ability to explain learning targets and strengths and weaknesses of their writing and their ability to revise their writing. The participants, two male and one female, were randomly chosen from the teacher/researcher’s fifth-grade classroom in a large public school in the Midwest. Data sources included audio-recorded interviews and writing conferences, student-written work and self-assessments, and teacher assessments and notes. Self-assessment and dialogue with the teacher served as tools for providing feedback to the student and the teacher. Throughout implementation of the instructional strategies, students were able to talk about the learning targets and the strengths and weaknesses of their writing and were motivated and able to revise their writing. Limitations of the study included the length of the study and diversity of participants. Suggestions for future research included exploring ways to elicit more student feedback and the impact of teacher language during writing conferences on the self-efficacy of students.


Rapid development in information and communication technology (ICT) is changing the instructional strategies in Higher Education. This study aimed to identify the level of self-efficacy of B.Ed. (IT) undergraduates of a local University in a flipped classroom. Further it also investigated gender difference among the undergraduates self-efficacy in the classroom. A group of 35 student selected using convenience sampling method. This group divided into Group 1 as control group and Group 2 as intervention. Group one consists of 17 students and two consist of 18 students. Initially the two classes answered pre-survey questionnaire of self-efficacy. Then control group was exposed to conventional teaching whereas intervention group intervened with Padlet. Data were analyzed with SPSS and revealed the intervention group has high Cohen effect (d) = .53, which is considered moderate size compared Cohen effect (d) = .17, considered small. This study clearly exhibits intervention group has better self-efficacy than control group. Further, the effect size of control group revealed decline in self-efficacy. In study exhibits there is no difference by gender in terms of self-efficacy. It is expected further study should be conducted by taking in to account sample size, duration of intervention, and method.


2004 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 30-41 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pim Kuipers ◽  
Glenys Carlson ◽  
Sandra Bailey ◽  
Anshu Sharma

AbstractCommunity-based rehabilitation for people with acquired brain injury (ABI) is largely driven by goals set in the course of rehabilitation by clients and service providers. A preliminary study investigating the perspectives and practice of experienced rehabilitation coordinators was undertaken to explore issues that influence goal-setting in community rehabilitation settings. Detailed interviews and subsequent rounds of clarification were conducted with six experienced rehabilitation coordinators. Key themes identified through inductive analysis include cognitive influences, other client influences, service provider influences and the client-service provider relationship in the goal-setting process. Based on the findings, a preliminary descriptive schema of goal-setting in a community-based rehabilitation service for people with acquired brain injury is suggested. Factors such as training, experience, and values of the rehabilitation coordinators are also discussed in terms of their influence on goal-setting. Some strategies to assist a person with ABI to identify and work towards achieving realistic goals are identified. Suggestions for enhancing community-based rehabilitation practices with people with ABI, and scope for future research are noted. This paper constitutes a general overview of goal-setting in community-based ABI rehabilitation.


2020 ◽  
Vol 61 (6) ◽  
pp. 819-824
Author(s):  
Danielle C. Hergert ◽  
Andrew R. Mayer ◽  
Kent Hutchinson ◽  
Joseph R. Sadek ◽  
Davin K. Quinn

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea Kusec ◽  
Fionnuala C. Murphy ◽  
Polly V. Peers ◽  
Cara Lawrence ◽  
Emma Cameron ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Acquired brain injury (ABI) affects approximately 79.3 million individuals annually and is linked with elevated rates of depression and low mood. Existing methods for treating depression in ABI have shown mixed efficacy. Behavioural activation (BA) is a potentially promising intervention. Its premise is that individuals with low mood avoid planning and engaging in activities due to low expectations of a positive outcome. Consequently, their exposure to positive reinforcement is reduced, exacerbating low mood. BA aims to break this cycle by encouraging activity planning and engagement. It is unknown whether cognitive demands of traditional BA may undermine efficacy in ABI. Here, we assess the feasibility and acceptability of two groups designed to increase activity engagement. In the activity planning group (traditional BA), the importance of meaningful and positive activity will be discussed and participants encouraged to plan/engage in activities in everyday life. The activity engagement group (experiential BA) instead focuses on engagement in positive experiences (crafts, games, discussion) within the group. The primary aims are to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of the two groups in ABI. A secondary aim is to explore relative efficacy of the groups compared to an equivalent period of waitlist controls. Method This study outlines a parallel-arm pilot feasibility trial for individuals with low mood and ABI that compares a traditional vs experiential BA group vs waitlist controls. Adults (≥ 18 years) will be recruited from local ABI services and randomised to condition. Feasibility and acceptability will be assessed via recruitment, retention, attendance and participant feedback. Groups will be compared (pre- and post-intervention and 1 month follow-up) by assessing self-reported activity engagement. Secondary outcomes include self-report measures of depression, anxiety, post-traumatic distress related to the ABI, motivation, participation and sense of control over one’s life. Ethics and dissemination The trial has been approved by the Health Research Authority of the NHS in the UK (East of England—Cambridge Central, REF 18/EE/0305). Results will inform future research on interventions for mood in ABI and be disseminated broadly via peer-reviewed journals, conference presentations and social media. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03874650 pre-results. Protocol version 2.1, March 5, 2019


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document