Exploring Therapists’ Perceptions of Facilitating Family Involvement in Neurorehabilitation: A Qualitative Study
Introduction: There is a high prevalence of Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) in the Republic of Ireland and ABI can result in a range of physical, cognitive and communicative issues. Post
ABI patients frequently go through the inpatient rehabilitation process to help to remediate these impairments. Current research advocates the involvement of family members in the rehabilitation process and further research is needed to expand on what this involvement entails and how to best facilitate this. This study sought to explore therapists’ perceptions of this process of involving family members in the neurorehabilitation process.
Aim: To explore therapists’ perceptions of facilitating family involvement in neurorehabilitation.
Objectives:
● To explore therapists’ perceptions of the benefits and limitations to family involvement in the neurorehabilitation process post brain injury
● To explore the potential enablers and barriers to successfully involving family members in neurorehabilitation.
● To identify strategies used by therapists to involve families in the neurorehabilitation process.
Method: Qualitative design was employed in the form of semi-structured interviews with nine neurorehabilitation therapists working in the Republic of Ireland (RoI). Thematic
analysis was used to analyse the data collected from the interview process.
Conclusion: Therapists perceived the process of involving families positively and all actively employed strategies to try to help the process of involving families in neurorehabilitation. Implications: Further quantitative research to examine the effect of family involvement on
patient and family outcomes would be beneficial. Further investigation on how best to incorporate training on how to facilitate family involvement into rehabilitation professionals
training would help to support clinicians with the process.
History
First Supervisor
Dr Orlagh O’SheaSecond Supervisor
Dr Deirdre ConnollyComments
A thesis submitted in part fulfilment of the degree of MSc in Neurology & Gerontology, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland. 2020Published Citation
Keegan M,. Exploring Therapists’ Perceptions of Facilitating Family Involvement in Neurorehabilitation: A Qualitative Study [MSc Thesis] Dublin: Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland; 2020Degree Name
MSc Neurology and GerontologyDate of award
2020-11-30Programme
- MSc Neurology and Gerontology