Effectiveness of a multidisciplinary rehabilitation program for persons with acquired brain injury and executive dysfunction

<p><b>Purpose:</b> The purpose of this study is to explore the effects of a multidisciplinary acquired brain injury rehabilitation out-patient program (5 d/week for 7 weeks) on improvements to participants’ activity and participation outcomes related to meal preparation and to determine whether gains are maintained at 3 and 6 months post program.</p> <p><b>Methods:</b> A single case experimental design with repeated measures pre- and post-intervention with 7 adult participants with ABI and executive dysfunction (4 females, mean age 38 ± 10.1 years) was used.</p> <p><b>Results:</b> A strong improvement effect between pre and post phases was found for number of errors on the Cooking Task for 6/7 participants; four participants showed significant improvement immediately after the program and at 3 and 6 months post. Six out of seven participants improved significantly on the Instrumental Activities of Daily Living Profile and four participants improved between the post and 6 month follow-up. Four out of seven participants showed significantly improved Life Habits scores pre- versus post-program.</p> <p><b>Conclusions:</b> Significant improvements were observed in activity and participation outcomes related to preparing a meal in adults with ABI and executive dysfunction who participated in a 7-week multidisciplinary rehabilitation out-patient program. Treatment gains were maintained for the majority of participants at 3 and 6 months following the program.</p> <p>Implication of Rehabilitation</p><p>A 7-week multidisciplinary rehabilitation out-patient program appears to improve activities and participation; the effects are sustainable after 6 months.</p><p>A detailed description of the therapeutic interventions provided during the cooking activity should help clinicians better understand what specific functions are solicited or required during a particular activity.</p><p>Knowledge from this study may help guide clinicians in their work within this complex area of rehabilitation.</p><p></p> <p>A 7-week multidisciplinary rehabilitation out-patient program appears to improve activities and participation; the effects are sustainable after 6 months.</p> <p>A detailed description of the therapeutic interventions provided during the cooking activity should help clinicians better understand what specific functions are solicited or required during a particular activity.</p> <p>Knowledge from this study may help guide clinicians in their work within this complex area of rehabilitation.</p