A qualitative study of individuals with acquired brain injury' and program facilitators' experiences in virtual acquired brain injury community support programs.
Jasleen GrewalSarah Vu NguyenNichola NonisHardeep SinghPublished in: Disability and rehabilitation (2024)
These findings highlight the need for stakeholders to implement guidelines and training for program facilitators and attendees of virtual ABI support programs to maximize accessibility, usability, inclusivity and safety.IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATIONThis study described the experiences of people with acquired brain injury and facilitators who participated in virtual support programs.Benefits of virtual support programs include connecting with peers, increased access to resources, and enhanced feasibility and accessibility.Difficulties with virtual support programs include intrapersonal (e.g., increased side effects), interpersonal (e.g., communication barriers), and environmental and contextual (e.g., privacy concerns) challenges.Suggestions to improve program quality include creating a safe and respectful environment, fostering engagement and managing challenging situations, and enhancing accessibility and inclusivity.