SEED PROJECT: Development of the ROBIN (Returning hOme after Brain INjury) smart device application

About the Project

About

Current inpatient acquired brain injury (ABI) rehabilitation focuses on discharge (i.e. what the person needs to be able to do safely to leave hospital) rather than a focus on transition (i.e. what the person needs to be able to do when they get home). This results in people experiencing unexpected difficulties once they return home. A previous research project, completed by members of the research team, used a co-design approach in collaboration with people with ABI, support people, health professionals, and technology designers to develop a concept for a technological solution to assist with this transition. The current project progresses this work to turn the concept into a smart device application that can be user tested in a clinical setting.

Aim and objective

The aim of this project is to develop, and user test, a workable co-designed smart device application to assist with the transition to home following acquired brain injury (ABI) rehabilitation.

Outcome 

(expected outcomes) An iOS smart device application will be developed through this research project. Additionally, this application will be preliminary tested for acceptability and feasibility by the completion of the project, ready for testing on a wider scale.

Impact 

The co-design of the app will ensure that the technology will not be “left on the shelf” and will be something that is wanted, needed, and used by people with brain injury.

Results

Development of the app will be completed by the end of 2024. Acceptability and feasibility testing will occur in the first half of 2025.

People/organisations involved 

• The Hopkins Centre
• Griffith University
• Metro South Health

Project status and timeframe

The research team has submitted their ethics application and have started development talks with the app developer.

This project is currently calling for research participants! See below flyers for all the information: