Abstract for presentation at 6th World Congress on Brain Injury

For both persons and clinicians involved in the rehabilitation process following traumatic brain injury (TBI), training in the use of a diary/notebook as a memory strategy is a noted rehabilitation intervention (Ownsworth& McFarland 1999). Difficulties often occur for the person in the successful use of a diary once they return to their community, known as generalisation.
Literature sought that explores the personal experience of diary use following TBI and issues around generalisation from the viewpoint of the person was very limited. This study will explore the research question: “What is the person’s experience of using a diary as a memory strategy following traumatic brain injury, and what are the issues that contribute to its generalisation into the person’s community?”
Study Objectives:
1. Gain an understanding of the experience of using a diary as a memory strategy for persons following TBI, both within transitional rehabilitation and within their communities.
2. Identify the issues that may contribute to the use of a diary as a generalised memory strategy for persons following TBI.
3. Obtain information rich in experience that will inform clinicians and consumers within the brain injury community.
Triangulation methodology will be utilised, involving focus groups and 2-3 indepth interviews. Participants include past or present adult clients of the South West Brain Injury Rehabilitation Service.
This study is being undertaken at the time of submission of this abstract. Qualitative analysis will be continuous throughout the study and results will be discussed according to the research question. Implications to transitional and community rehabilitation following TBI will be highlighted.

Ownsworth, TL & McFarland, K, 1999, ‘Memory remediation in long-term acquired brain injury: Two approaches in diary training.’ Brain Injury, 13(8), pp. 605-626.