Capacity building for providers of cognitive rehabilitation in Queensland: a needs analysis survey

Jennifer Fleming; Sarah Prescott; Larissa Claridge; Emmah Doig; Anna Copley; Emma Finch; Christina Kerr; Julie Henry

doi:10.1071/IB23062

RESEARCH ARTICLE (Open Access)

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Capacity building for providers of cognitive rehabilitation in Queensland: a needs analysis survey

Jennifer Fleming

^A ^* , Sarah Prescott ^A , Larissa Claridge ^A , Emmah Doig

^A ^B , Anna Copley

^A , Emma Finch

^A ^C ^D , Christina Kerr ^E and Julie Henry

^F

+ Author Affiliations

- Author Affiliations

^A School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.

^B Surgical Treatment and Rehabilitation Service (STARS) Education and Research Alliance, The University of Queensland and Metro North Health, Brisbane, Australia.

^C Speech Pathology, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane, Qld, Australia.

^D Research and Innovation, West Moreton Health, Ipswich, Qld, Australia.

^E National Injury Insurance Agency, Qld, Australia.

^F School of Psychology, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.

^* Correspondence to: j.fleming@uq.edu.au

Handling Editor: Grahame Simpson

Brain Impairment 25, IB23062 https://doi.org/10.1071/IB23062

Submitted: 7 June 2023 Accepted: 28 January 2024 Published: 20 February 2024

© 2024 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)). Published by CSIRO Publishing on behalf of the Australasian Society for the Study of Brain Impairment. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC-ND)

Abstract

Background

Cognitive rehabilitation of people with traumatic brain injury is a complex and challenging area of practice. Practitioners working in cognitive rehabilitation require ongoing training to stay abreast of new research and best practice interventions. A needs analysis was conducted to inform the development of a capacity building program for cognitive rehabilitation providers.

Methods

A cross-sectional online survey of providers of cognitive rehabilitation services in Queensland collected data on demographic information, perceptions of knowledge, skills and confidence in cognitive rehabilitation, previously completed training, desired training opportunities and delivery methods, and barriers and facilitators to engaging in training.

Results

The 103 respondents included 67 occupational therapists, 17 speech pathologists, 12 psychologists and seven social workers with a broad range of practice experience. Participants perceived a need for further training, with executive function and functional cognition the most desired topics. The number of topics previously trained on was significantly correlated with levels of knowledge, skills and confidence (P < 0.01). Barriers to training were time and affordability, and facilitators included flexibility, workplace support, positive practitioner mindset and targeted content.

Conclusion

Cognitive rehabilitation providers in Queensland reported a need for further training, delivered flexibly, with a focus on managing complex cognitive impairments.

Keywords: acquired brain injury, cognitive rehabilitation, occupational therapy, practitioners, professional education, speech pathology, training, traumatic brain injury.

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