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

Contextual factors of financial capability and financial well-being for adults living with brain injury: a qualitative photovoice study

To identify the contextual factors related to financial capability and financial well-being for adults living with acquired brain injury (ABI). We conducted a qualitative descriptive study using photovoice and included 17 adults who live with ABI in Manitoba, Canada. Over 3-to-5 weeks, participants took photos of their financial capability (i.e. knowledge, skills, and behaviors related to managing finances) or their financial well-being (i.e. subjective and objective financial outcomes). Participants were interviewed about their photos. Five researchers iteratively and thematically analyzed interview transcripts. Analysis identified the importance of the economic, social, technology, and physical or sensory context. Subthemes related to: (i) hard times finding financial resources; (ii) processes not making sense; (iii) getting help from the right person; and (iv) invisible disability bias and stigma. There is decreased literature about financial capability or financial well-being after ABI. The results of this study highlight the salience of finance to living with ABI and the importance of the context to addressing financial-related life participation for people living with ABI. Information about contextual factors related to finance can improve rehabilitation assessment and intervention practice as well as emphasize needed accessibility changes to financial environments.</p