Exploring participation after paediatric acquired brain injury

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Pediatric Neurology

Background:

• Acquired brain injury (ABI) significantly impacts children and young people's (CYP) ability to participate in daily life.
• Understanding participation levels is crucial for effective neuro-rehabilitation and support strategies.
• Previous research has not fully elucidated participation barriers in CYP-ABI post-rehabilitation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore participation levels in home, school, and community settings for UK children and young people with acquired brain injury (CYP-ABI).
• To identify factors influencing participation in CYP-ABI.
• To assess the feasibility of conducting research with this population.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study design was employed.
• The Child and Family Follow-Up Survey was distributed to parents/carers of 134 CYP-ABI who received neuro-rehabilitation between 2014-2016.
• Low response rate (4%) due to access and recruitment challenges.

Main Results:

• Widespread participation restrictions were reported by respondents, most notably in community-structured events/activities and educational settings.
• Key factors impacting participation included cognitive and movement impairments, family stress, and insufficient community support.
• The study highlighted significant participation limitations persisting over two years post-injury.

Conclusions:

• Researching CYP-ABI presents feasibility challenges, indicated by the low response rate.
• CYP-ABI experience substantial participation restrictions, particularly in community and educational contexts.
• Cognitive, motor, and psychosocial factors significantly influence participation, necessitating targeted interventions and support.