Citation

Mamman R, Cheng A, Tsow R, Schmidt J. BMC Health Serv. Res. 2022; 22(1): e1124.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2022, Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group - BMC)

DOI

10.1186/s12913-022-08444-x

PMID

36068541

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Impaired self-awareness (i.e., a lack of insight) is experienced by most individuals who have sustained a moderate to severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). During the early recovery period post-injury, these individuals may not be able to recognize their abilities and limitations, hence, negatively impacting their daily life and function. Although there are assessments and interventions to improve self-awareness after TBI, little is known about how clinicians assess and address this impairment in an inpatient rehabilitation setting.

OBJECTIVE: To examine how clinicians assess, report, and provide interventions for impaired self-awareness after TBI.

METHODS: A retrospective chart review was conducted on interdisciplinary rehabilitation clinician entries for individuals with TBI (n = 67) who received inpatient rehabilitation within a five-year period (2014-2019). A reflexive thematic analysis was used to identify themes pertaining to self-awareness.

RESULTS: Three themes were generated to explore clinician responses to their clients' impaired self-awareness: 1) 'recalling and understanding' described clinician observations of client behaviors and expressions of self-awareness, 2) 'applying and analyzing' identified clinicians providing relevant tasks and advice to clients, and 3) 'evaluating and creating' described clinicians actively interacting with clients by providing feedback, guided prompts, and a follow-up plan.

CONCLUSION: Clinicians produced varied responses to clients' impaired self-awareness after TBI.

FINDINGS may help to develop research priorities and integrated knowledge translation initiatives to increase evidence-based practice for impaired self-awareness after TBI.

Language: en

Keywords

Chart review; Occupational therapy; Self-awareness; Traumatic brain injury