Potential of using an assistive technology to address meal preparation difficulties following acquired brain injury: clients’ and caregivers’ perspectives

Abstract

Objectives

This study explored difficulties in meal preparation experienced by adults with moderate to severe acquired brain injury (ABI) and available compensatory strategies from both ABI individuals’ and caregivers’ perspectives. Further, this study investigated their opinions on potential benefits, barriers and facilitators to the use of the Cognitive Orthosis for coOKing (COOK) in their living environment.

Methods

Using a qualitative descriptive approach, semi-structured individual interviews and focus groups were carried out with adults with moderate to severe ABI (n = 20) and formal and informal caregivers (n = 13) in Ontario and Quebec, Canada. A qualitative analysis based on Miles et al.’s approach was used.

Results

According to participants, cognitive, physical, psychosocial dysfunctions and lack of availability of supportive caregivers were the main difficulties that impede persons with ABI from engaging effectively in meal preparation tasks. Memory aids on smartphones, and caregivers’ direct support were reported as the most commonly used compensatory strategies, though the latter do not provide adequate support. COOK was identified as a technology with great potential to improve independence and increase safety in meal preparation for these clients while decreasing caregiver burden. However, psychosocial issues and limited access to funding were considered as the main barriers to the use of COOK. Providing training and the availability of financial support were mentioned as the main facilitators to the use of this technology.

Conclusions

Findings of this study on difficulties of meal preparation following ABI and potential benefits and barriers of COOK will help improve this technology and customize it to the needs of clients with ABI and their caregivers.

Implications for Rehabilitation

• Current compensatory strategies are not tailored to the specific needs of clients with ABI and cannot provide sufficient support for caregivers.

• COOK shows a high potential for increasing independence and safety during meal preparation in a living environment for clients with ABI via a sensor-based autonomous safety system and a cognitive assistance application.

• COOK has the potential to decrease caregivers’ burden by proving remote access to a stove/oven.

Keywords:

• Acquired brain injury
• activities of daily living
• assistive technology
• cognitive rehabilitation

Acknowledgements

Thanks to all clinicians and care providers who assisted in making this work a reality. We would like to gratefully acknowledge all investigators and Érika Dubuc who supported us in this project.

Disclosure statement

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

Additional information

Funding

This project was supported by a subaward of a team grant provided by the Ontario Neuro-trauma Foundation and Quebec Rehabilitation Research Network [2016-ABI-REPAR-1027] and the Canadian Traumatic Brain Injury Research Consortium [subaward from a grant obtained from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research: TBI 144225]. The project was also made possible thanks to funding obtained from the Fonds de Recherche du Québec – Santé [FRQS, #33403]. SZ is a post-doctorate fellow supported by the Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Rehabilitation of Greater Montreal and MGR is supported by a doctoral bursary from the FRQS [#252232].