None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
Participation in the workforce is often not possible for people who have sustained a severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). Furthermore, a large proportion of those who are unable to return to work also do not engage in any meaningful occupation in lieu of work. Such people generally have sustained major impairments of the cognitive functions essential to the development of meaningful occupational activities; specifically the ability to plan, initiate action, and to monitor and/or sustain activity. They often require structure and support if they are to develop a program of meaningful activities. This project specifically addresses the issue of diminished meaningful occupational activity for those who have sustained a TBI and are unable to return to work. Using single case experimental design methodology this study will provide individual intervention specifically aimed at increasing the person’s engagement in meaningful activity.
Interventions
Individual intervention will be provided to participants. The intervention will target a minimum of three specific target behaviours related to the participant’s desired lifestyle changes, as selected by the participant during a goal-setting process. The target behaviours will be tailored to each individual participant and will therefore differ among participants. A participant-driven schedule of activity will be developed, initially drawing upon the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure
Individual intervention will be provided to participants. The intervention will target a minimum of three specific target behaviours related to the participant’s desired lifestyle changes, as selected by the participant during a goal-setting process. The target behaviours will be tailored to each individual participant and will therefore differ among participants. A participant-driven schedule of activity will be developed, initially drawing upon the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure and Goal Attainment Scaling. The intervention will be administered by a psychologist or occupational therapist. Participants will attend 1x 1 hour individual session per week plus 1 x 20-30 minute telephone intervention per week for 15 weeks intervention. Adherence to intervention will be monitored in several ways. Participant attendance at intervention sessions will be monitored weekly. Additionally at each session the therapist will be checking whether the participant has followed-up activities planned at the previous session. Furthermore the therapists providing the intervention will have weekly supervision meetings with the lead researcher to monitor the intervention is adhering to the study protocol.
Sponsors
Professor Robyn Tate
Study design
Allocation
Non-randomised trial
Intervention model
Other
Primary purpose
Treatment
Masking
Open (masking not used)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
18 Years to 65 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
1. Sustained a severe TBI (duration of posttraumatic amnesia greater than one week) 2. Aged between 18 and 65 years 3. Between 1 and 15 years post trauma 4. Have received a comprehensive inpatient rehabilitation programme for the TBI 5. Living in the community in the Sydney metropolitan region 6. Independent in basic activities of daily living 7. Be able to travel independently by public transport 8. Have functional English to be able to participate in the therapy programme 9. Have sufficient neuropsychological skills (as documented in the neuropsychological and medical reports) to be able to participate in the therapy programme
Exclusion criteria
1. Current and major psychiatric disorder, including substance abuse as documented in medical records or determined by responses to the social and medical history form questionnaire 2. Participating in the competitive workforce 3. Pre-existing neurological disorder
Outcome results
None listed