Development and evaluation of an early specialised traumatic brain injury vocational rehabilitation training package

Holmes, Jain; Phillips, Julie; Morris, Richard; Bedekar, Yash; Tyerman, Ruth; Radford, Kathryn

Abstract

Background:
In a feasibility randomised controlled trial, training was developed to equip Occupational Therapists to deliver Early Specialised Traumatic Brain Injury Vocational Rehabilitation in the English National Health Service.

Methods:
The package was developed by "experts" in vocational rehabilitation and traumatic brain injury and included a manual, direct instruction by six trainers and opportunity for mentorship by four therapists. Following training, therapists were interviewed regarding the effectiveness and "ease of use" of the package. Interviews were analysed using the framework approach.

Results:
Five trained therapists were interviewed regarding the package. Results were organised into 6 categories: (1) motivation to participate in research; (2) impact of the learning environment; (3) changing confidence levels over time; (4) growing appreciation of complexities about the intervention; (5) acceptability of the training package; (6) lessons for future implementation.

Conclusions:
Therapists reported acquiring knowledge necessary to implement the intervention. Data indicates that training packages require detailed descriptions of the interventions being taught for local implementation in the NHS and for future research. Training materials are valued by therapists but require time for familiarisation and reminders from mentors help put training into practice. Therapists have concerns about implementing interventions within a research context, which researchers should address.

Citation

Holmes, J., Phillips, J., Morris, R., Bedekar, Y., Tyerman, R., & Radford, K. (in press). Development and evaluation of an early specialised traumatic brain injury vocational rehabilitation training package. British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 79(11), https://doi.org/10.1177/0308022616651645

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: May 5, 2016
• Online Publication Date: Jun 29, 2016
• Deposit Date: Jun 15, 2016
• Publicly Available Date: Jun 29, 2016
• Journal: British Journal of Occupational Therapy
• Print ISSN: 0308-0226
• Electronic ISSN: 1477-6006
• Publisher: SAGE Publications
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 79
• Issue: 11
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0308022616651645
• Keywords: Vocational rehabilitation, Traumatic brain injury, Implementation
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/793085
• Publisher URL: http://bjo.sagepub.com/content/79/11/693
• Contract Date: Jun 15, 2016