Goal intention reminding in traumatic brain injury: A feasibility study using implementation intentions and text...

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Behavioral Science

Background:

• Traumatic brain injury (TBI) can significantly impair goal-directed behavior and community reintegration.
• Developing accessible and effective interventions to support individuals with TBI is crucial for improving their quality of life.
• Participant-created implementation intentions offer a personalized approach to behavior change.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the feasibility of using participant-created implementation intentions delivered via text message reminders.
• To enhance goal-related activity in individuals with chronic, moderate to severe TBI.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of this intervention compared to an educational control group.

Main Methods:

• A pilot randomized controlled trial was conducted over 8 weeks.
• Participants with moderate/severe TBI received either goal-related implementation intentions (GI) via SMS or an educational review (GR).
• Outcomes were measured using neuropsychological tests, the Participation with Recombined Tools-Objective (PART-O), Brief Symptom Inventory-18 (BSI-18), and Goal Attainment Scales (GAS).

Main Results:

• Participants demonstrated high response rates to SMS messages.
• The GI group showed statistically significant improvements in community activity and social relations (PART-O) compared to the control group.
• No significant differences were found in depression, anxiety, or overall distress (BSI-18) or on Goal Attainment Scales (GAS).

Conclusions:

• Text message-delivered implementation intentions are a feasible and potentially effective intervention for individuals with TBI.
• This approach shows promise as a simple, low-cost method to support the implementation of goal-relevant behaviors.
• Further research is warranted to confirm these preliminary findings in larger trials.