Efficacy of a group-based education intervention for people with traumatic brain injury: supplementary results from a 12-month randomized controlled trial

ABSTRACT

Objective

Our team developed an attention control condition, called the Brain Health Group (BHG), for a randomized controlled trial (RCT; NCT03594734). The focus of the BHG was on brain health education and self-management. The objectives of this supplementary analysis are to (1) Describe compliance with the 12-month BHG; (2) Examine efficacy for improving general self-efficacy (GSE, primary) and secondary outcomes; and (3) Describe findings from the program evaluation.

Design

English-speaking adults (18–64 years old) who were ≥6 months post a moderate-to-severe TBI were randomized to the BHG (n = 29) or active intervention (n = 28). Data were collected at baseline and 12 months, including GSE, depression, satisfaction with life (SWL), self-rated abilities for health practices (SRAHP), and alcohol use. Program evaluation was conducted at 12 months.

Results

Attendance was 89%, and goal tracking was 63%. Within group analysis showed a significant increase in SRAHP scores (p = 0.018). Non-significant increases in GSE and SWL were observed, and participants perceived the BHG as helpful. No significant changes in depression or alcohol use were reported.

Conclusion

People with TBI can engage in and benefit from the BHG and perceive the program as helpful for improving knowledge about brain health and awareness of self-management skills.

KEYWORDS:

• Self-management
• health
• self-efficacy
• head injury
• quality of life

Disclosure statement

The authors report there are no competing interests to declare.

Data availability statement

The dataset generated during and/or analyzed during the current study is not publicly available but is available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

Supplementary Material

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed online at https://doi.org/10.1080/02699052.2023.2225874

Additional information

Funding

The contents of this manuscript were developed under a grant from the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR grant number 90DPTB0013). NIDILRR is a center within the Administration for Community Living (ACL), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The contents of this manuscript do not necessarily represent the policy of NIDILRR, ACL, HHS, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government