LAUSR

Introduction/Background Disability following traumatic brain injury (TBI) is multidimensional, affecting those injured and their family members. The family as a whole is seldom recognized as an arena for rehabilitation efforts. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of an eight-session, manualized multidisciplinary family-centred rehabilitation intervention for families facing TBI, aimed at improving individual and family functioning. We evaluated the families’ willingness to participate; the appropriateness of inclusion criteria; the need for cultural adjustment of the intervention; the collaboration with municipal health care service and the leadership structure of the sessions; and the appropriateness of the selected self-reported questionnaires for data collection. Material and method Two families, six people, participated in this non-randomized feasibility study of the intervention arm of a full-scale RCT, conducted at the University Hospital in Oslo, Norway (ClinicalTrial.gov # NCT03000400 ). The study was performed in close collaboration with a municipal health care service. Pre-defined success criteria were determined prior to conducting the feasibility study. The evaluation of these criteria was based on the families’ feedback regarding acceptability of the intervention, the self-report measures and the experiences of the group facilitators conducting the intervention. Results The pre-defined succes criteria were fulfilled. Both families completed all eight sessions of the intervention. Minor cultural differences were detected, however, the topics and strategies covered in the intervention were perceived as relevant and recognizable. Some challenges emerged and were discussed before commencing the full-scale RCT. The challenges were related to the logistics regarding the delivery of the intervention. This pertained to keeping an acceptable level of burden of participation for the families and the collaborating municipal health professionals, and making the necessary adjustments of the intervention to suit the families’ unique needs. Conclusion The family-centred intervention and trial procedures were feasible. A pragmatic approach is considered necessary when commencing the full-scale RCT.