Feasibility of BrainSTORM, a Traumatic Brain Injury Transitional Care Intervention.

Abstract

To investigate the feasibility, acceptability, and clinical outcome measures of a transitional care intervention for patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) and their family caregivers. Inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation at a level I trauma center in the Southeastern United States. Patients (ages 18-75) diagnosed with moderate to severe TBI, receiving rehabilitation, and their family caregivers. Quasi-experimental, single-arm, single-center feasibility study with pre- and post-test design. Participants completed a 4-month transitional care program involving monthly education and social support. Feasibility of enrollment, data collection, intervention completion rates, and intervention acceptability. Clinical outcome measures included patient quality of life (QOL) (12-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-12), primary outcome) and patient and caregiver self-efficacy (Self-Efficacy for Management of Chronic Conditions Scale). Eleven dyads and 1 monad enrolled (N=23, 12 patients, 11 caregivers). All completed baseline data; 91.3% (n=21, 11 patients, 10 caregivers) completed 2-month (intervention midpoint) data; and 86% (n=20, 11 patients, 9 caregivers) completed 4-month (intervention endpoint) data. The intervention completion rate was 91.67%. Participants engaged in a mean of 2.17 (SD=1.34) monthly educational webinars and 2.42 (SD=1.51) social support groups during the intervention period. Approximately 70% of participants (n=16, 9 patients, 7 caregivers) completed acceptability data, indicating positive intervention experiences (patients: mean 9.44/10 [SD=1.01]; caregivers: mean 9.57/10 [SD=0.79]). Patient QOL scores did not statistically improve over time; however, patient self-efficacy scores did statistically significantly improve from baseline (mean=7.03, SD=1.53; P =.0197) to intervention end point (4months) (mean=8.35, SD=1.71). Brain Injury Support To Optimize Recovering Minds (BrainSTORM) is a promising new TBI transitional care intervention that has potential to enhance care standards for patients with TBI and their family caregivers. Further research is needed to determine its efficacy.