Key Ingredients for a Conversation-Support Group for Individuals with Acquired Brain Injury (ABI)

Research

Objectives: To investigate the feasibility of holding a weekly, 60 min, online conversation-support group for participants with ABI. To identify the key ingredients for satisfaction from the perspective of the participants.

Design: online conversation-support group was 60 minutes, facilitated by a SLP, weekly for 6 weeks. Participant surveys and qualitative interviews were completed during a break from group and used to make adjustments to the group. Break followed by another 6 weeks of groups, total of 12 weeks.

Setting: in the community, held online

Participants: There were a total of 6 participants with the following demographics: 33.3% female, 66.7% male; 31-62 years old; 66.7% TBI, 16.7% stroke, 16.7% other; time since onset- range 1-11 years; and MoCA Scores- 16.7% WNL, 66.7% mild, 16.7% moderate.

Interventions: Weekly emails were sent to the group with recap from the previous week and agenda for the coming week. Topics discussed each week were identified using participant input.

Main Outcome Measures: MoCA, Flourishing Scale, Friendship Scale, PROMIS, Surveys and qualitative interviews

Results: Survey questions scale of 1-7. All participants rated a 7: Would you continue in this type of group, Would you recommend this group to others with ABI. Majority rated a 7: Have you found the group valuable/useful?, valuable to get to know other people with ABI? Was it helpful to have an SLP facilitating the group?

Conclusions: Holding this group is feasible given appropriate funding and groups online.
Per participants, positive experiences: Sense of community, Sharing about experiences since ABI and strategies, Having a regular get together with others.
Key ingredients: frequency, Group Size, SLP facilitator, Structure, willingness to share

Author(s) Disclosures: Victoria Galarnyk M.S. CCC-SLP is a speech-language pathologist at SRALab Arlington Heights Day Rehab. She has no conflicts of interest to disclose. Rachel Hitch, MA CCC SLP is a Research SLP at SRALab Center for Aphasia Research and Treatment. She has no conflicts of interest to disclose.