Refining a clinical practice framework to engage clients with brain injury in goal setting

Client-centred goal setting is fundamental to occupational therapy practice and has been increasingly embraced by all rehabilitation practioners. Goal setting in clinical practice is a highly individualised process and may be more challenging with people with acquired brain injury. However, research examining practice is limited. We developed the Client-Centred Goal Setting Practice Framework to explain how client-centred goals are developed in brain injury rehabilitation. This framework was based on interview data and may reflect practitioner's theoretical knowledge rather than goal setting processes used in routine practice. The aims of this study were to explore the application of the framework to every-day practice, examine the extent to which goal setting was client-centred and refine the framework.

A mixed methods approach was employed. Participants were community dwelling clients with ABI and their practitioners, drawn from a hospital outpatient service and community private practices. The communication exchange between practitioners and clients during routine goal setting was audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed using framework analysis. Quantitative measures evaluated the client-centredness of goals.

A total of 65 goal setting sessions with 36 clients and 17 practitioners (n = 8 occupational therapists) were analysed. The three goal setting phases of the framework and associated processes and strategies were represented. The 'establishing trust' process was interwoven throughout all phases and an additional strategy, 'social connection' was identified.

The framework provides preliminary evidence about the core processes and strategies which uses establishing trust to engage clients with ABI in goal setting, and may be a useful tool to guide client-centred goal setting practice in similar services.