Assessing cognitive-communication skills in the Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) return to work population

About the Project

Project aims and objective:

The research aims to develop a clinically driven assessment tool and / or a client and employer tool for gathering information about workplace communication needs for a person to return to work after ABI. Once developed future areas of enquiry will look at tool validation and clinical use. This is an evolving research program guided by the Knowledge-to-Action (KTA) Process Framework. The project represents to the Knowledge Creation Phase (Inquiry, Synthesis and Tool/Product Development).

The study will use a multi-phase design, with three phases including:

1.       Phase 1 Scoping Review

2.       Phase 2 Clinical benchmarking survey and subsequent expert opinion focus group

3.       Phase 3 Design of clinical tools for assessing cognitive-communication skills in the return to work population. Expected benefits include the development of clinical tools to assess cognitive-communication in the ABI return to work population which will ultimately help to support return to work success in the ABI population. 

Project significance and expected outcome:

Change in the ability to communicate is a common consequence of Acquired Brain Injury (ABI). These changes can have a significant impact on a person’s employability. A growing body of evidence points to assessment and treatment processes that may better support people with communication disability return to work. Despite this, there has been limited translation of this growing evidence into clinical practice nationally and internationally. While assessing communication earlier and developing a personalised goal driven approach is considered best practice in ABI rehabilitation, therapists do not have the clinical tools to do this.

Project Status:

This project commenced in 2020 and due to finish in late 2021. The project is currently focused on completion of a scoping review, submission of findings for publication, local translation, clinical benchmarking and stakeholder presentations.

Project Funding:

This project is funded by a Hopkins Centre Seed Grant and the Motor Accident Insurance Commission (MAIC).

The project is proudly supported by Griffith University and the Division of Rehabilitation at Princess Alexandra Hospital, Metro South Hospital and Health Service.

Research Team: 

Katherine Cameron, The Hopkins Centre and Division of Rehabilitation, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Metro South Hospital and Health Service 

Professor Petrea Cornwell, Griffith University

Dr Kerrin Watter, Clinical Lead, ABI TRS, Division of Rehabilitation, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Metro South Hospital and Health Service 

Nina Wegener, Speech Pathologist ABI TRS, Division of Rehabilitation, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Metro South Hospital and Health Service