How does it feel to be helped using minimal cognitive assistance following a traumatic brain injury?

Individuals who sustain a moderate or severe traumatic brain injury frequently require cognitive assistance to complete complex everyday activities such as meal preparation. This assistance can be provided by a caregiver or assistive technologies for cognition. Assistance should be provided in an empowering manner, that is, in a way that allows the person to use their residual cognitive abilities. However, little is known about how individuals with traumatic brain injury perceive receiving this minimal assistance. This study aimed to document the perceptions of community-dwelling adults post traumatic brain injury regarding minimal cognitive assistance provided during a meal preparation task.

A qualitative descriptive multiple case study was conducted with five individuals having sustained a moderate to severe traumatic brain injury. They participated in three sessions: an evaluation using the IADL Profile, a guided session using a tailored meal preparation task and an interview to explore their perception of minimal cognitive assistance using video recordings. Interviews were analysed using inductive thematic analysis.

Participants with traumatic brain injury were recruited in collaboration with a traumatic brain injury community association.

Participants expressed general appreciation for the cognitive assistance provided, as it helped them better plan and carry out tasks, thus allowing them to be more efficient, safe and successful. They noted that minimal assistance allowed them time to think and try things on their own and gave them a sense of independence, particularly considering that more explicit assistance was also provided when needed. However, assistance was at times perceived as intrusive or unhelpful, emphasising the need to adjust support based on the individual's emotional response.

Offering minimal cognitive assistance, which allows individuals time to think and make decisions with support, was well perceived by participants. Further studies are needed to personalise cognitive assistance and integrate it into technologies.