Category: International; Cross-Cutting
Objective : To examine the feasibility of applying strategy training to improve participation outcomes of rehabilitation patients in Taiwanese and evaluate the potential intervention effects.
Design : A single-group, repeated-measures study.
Setting : Rehabilitation outpatient settings.
Participants (or Animals, Specimens, Cadavers) : A convenience sample of adults (N=20) with a primary diagnosis of ABI and with cognitive impairment received the intervention and were assessed pre- and post- the intervention (mean age: 55.9 years; mean time post-injury: 22 months; 17 males).
Interventions : Participation-focused strategy training intervention, a modified version of the strategy training intervention, were provided 1~2 sessions per week for a total of 10~20 intervention sessions from trained research therapists to the participants.
Main Outcome Measure(s) : Feasibility indicators (participants' recruitment, retention, attendance, engagement, comprehension, satisfaction, and intervention adherence), Participation Measure--3 Domains, 4 Dimensions (PM-3D4D), and Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM).
Results : Eighteen participants completed 100% of the scheduled intervention sessions. Participants had very good engagement in the intervention sessions (M=5.1±1.0 on the Pittsburgh Rehabilitation Scale) with sufficient comprehension (M=2.4±0.4 on a 3-point scale). Participants reported moderate to high satisfaction (M=29.3±3.3). Positive score changes were observed in the PM-3D4D (d= 0.46~1.25) and COPM scales (d= 1.82 and 2.12).
Conclusions : This study demonstrated the feasibility of delivering participation-focused strategy training to people with cognitive impairments following ABI in an Asian country. The preliminary evidence also showed that participants who received the strategy training intervention had positive changes in participation outcomes as well as performance of their self-identified goals. Based on findings of this study, a larger clinical trial is warranted to evaluate the efficacy of the strategy training intervention.
Feng-Hang Chang
– Associate Professor, Graduate Institute of Injury Prevention and Control, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, TaipeiYen-Nung Lin
– Director, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Taipei, TaipeiChao-Yi Wu
– Graduate student researcher, Department of Occupational Therapy, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniaYi-Hsuan Wu
– Occupational Therapist, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taipei
Elizabeth Skidmore
– Professor and Chair of Occupational Therapy, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania