Efficacy and acceptability of a home-based, family-inclusive intervention for veterans with TBI: A randomized controlled trial

Laraine Winter, Helene J. Moriarty, Keith Robinson, Catherine V. Piersol, Tracey Vause-Earland, Brian Newhart, Delores Blazer Iacovone, Nancy Hodgson, Laura N. Gitlin

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

19 Scopus citations

Abstract

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) often undermines community re-integration, impairs functioning and produces other symptoms. This study tested an innovative programme for veterans with TBI, the Veterans In-home Programme (VIP), delivered in veterans homes, involving a family member and targeting the environment (social and physical) to promote community re-integration, mitigate difficulty with the most troubling TBI symptoms and facilitate daily functioning.Setting: Interviews and intervention sessions were conducted in homes or by telephone.Participants: Eighty-one veterans with TBI at a VA polytrauma programme and a key family member.Design: This was a 2-group randomized controlled trial. Control-group participants received usual-care enhanced by two attention-control telephone calls. Follow-up interviews occurred up to 4 months after baseline interview.Main measures: VIPs efficacy was evaluated using measures of community re-integration, target outcomes reflecting veterans self-identified problems and self-rated functional competence.Results: At follow-up, VIP participants had significantly higher community re-integration scores and less difficulty managing targeted outcomes, compared to controls. Self-rated functional competence did not differ between groups. In addition, VIPs acceptability was high.Conclusion: A home-based, family-inclusive service for veterans with TBI shows promise for improving meaningful outcomes and warrants further research and clinical application.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)373-387
Number of pages15
JournalBrain Injury
Volume30
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 20 2016

Keywords

  • Community reintegration
  • family
  • in-home service
  • rehabilitation
  • traumatic brain injury
  • veterans

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Neuroscience (miscellaneous)
  • Developmental and Educational Psychology
  • Clinical Neurology

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