Community-based rehabilitation for adults with cognitive-communication disorders following traumatic brain injury: A mixed methods investigation

ABSTRACT

Objective

To investigate the experiences and perspectives of speech pathologists when delivering cognitive-communication therapy to adults following traumatic brain injury (TBI).

Methods

An explanatory sequential mixed methods design was used to explore the practices of speech pathologists working in community-based rehabilitation (CBR) settings. The first participant group completed an in-depth online survey, whilst the second group participated in an interview to discuss their processes and recommendations when managing adults following TBI.

Results

Participants highlighted the need for services to be client-centered and inclusive in their approaches to meet the rehabilitation needs of people following TBI in community-based settings. The key features identified to achieve this included utilizing a flexible service delivery approach, implementation of meaningful therapy, as well as inclusion of significant others.

Conclusions

These findings provide a snapshot of the current practices employed by a range of speech pathology services across Australia and New Zealand. Health professionals and rehabilitation service providers should consider the key factors highlighted by the participants when designing future CBR models of care for this client group.

KEYWORDS:

• Community-based rehabilitation
• cognitive-communication disorders
• health services research
• speech pathology
• traumatic brain injury

Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank each of the speech pathologists who contributed to this study by completing a survey or interview. Your time and insights were greatly appreciated.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.