Article

Whilst there are potential advantages of group-based interventions in
rehabilitation, facilitation of groups for patients following traumatic brain
injury (TBI) has challenges due to the complexity of impairments experienced.
This paper aims to review the literature concerning therapy groups within TBI
rehabilitation. METHOD:
A scoping review with systematic searching of relevant
databases and review of reference lists of included studies was conducted. Key
search terms included brain injury, group and rehabilitation OR therapy OR
intervention. Studies were included if at least some participants had a TBI
diagnosis and they investigated rehabilitation interventions conducted in a group
setting. Articles were collated, summarised and key findings are presented.
RESULTS: The total number of included articles was 99. The results indicated
group interventions are widely practised in TBI rehabilitation. Existing research
consists mostly of pre-post intervention studies addressing cognitive impairments
with outpatient participants. Most studies have identified significant positive
changes on some targeted outcome measures suggesting group interventions are
effective. CONCLUSIONS: Studies of the effectiveness of interventions targeting
'real-world' activities and participation-based goals are under-represented in
the TBI rehabilitation literature. Further research investigating the
effectiveness of group processes and the perceptions of patients and clinicians
is warranted to guide clinical practice. Implications for Rehabilitation
Group-based interventions are common in TBI rehabilitation, usually targeting
cognitive skills and impairments. The majority of studies demonstrated positive
changes pre-post group interventions on some outcome measures. Few studies
directly compare the outcome of an intervention delivered in a group setting to
the same intervention delivered in an individual setting. Patients perceive group
interventions to be beneficial for sharing experiences and reducing isolation,
receiving help and feedback and, assisting with adjustment and adaptation to life
after TBI, however, this research is limited. Greater emphasis on group-delivered
interventions that target 'real world' activities, or participation may be
beneficial with this population. Further research regarding consumer experiences
and processes that facilitate effective group interventions in TBI rehabilitation
is recommended.

Langue : ANGLAIS