TY - JOUR

T1 - “We can all relate": patient experience of an emotion-oriented group intervention

AU - Rowlands, Leanne

AU - Salas, Christian

AU - Coetzer, Rudi

AU - Buckland, Sharon

AU - Turnbull, Oliver

PY - 2024/6/27

Y1 - 2024/6/27

N2 - Introduction: Group interventions are carried out routinely acrossneuropsychological rehabilitation services, to improve understanding of braininjury and aspects of impairment. Treatment provided in a group modality canbring additional perceived benefits, such as co-operative learning. However, there are very few studies which explore patient perceptions and experiences of such interventions. In the present study we investigated the experience of attending a group-based educational intervention for the consequences of acquired brain injury (ABI), which had a strong focus on emotion and emotion regulation.Methods: Using qualitative semi-structured interviews (approximately 20minutes), the study explores the lived experience of participating in the sevensession programme, the better to identify the perceived efficacy, salienceand value of individual elements. Twenty participants with ABI took part inindividual interviews, after completion of the group programme (the Brain InjurySolutions and Emotions Programme, BISEP). The study adopted a descriptivephenomenological philosophy, which focuses on lived experience to explorea phenomenon (i.e. the experience of BISEP). As regards methods, the studyemployed thematic analysis to cluster experiences into themes of meaning.Results: Five themes were identified: (1) ‘Long term consequences and psychological needs’, which related to the persistent nature of direct consequences of injury and adjustment, and how these result in a need for interventions such as BISEP. (2) ‘Positive experiences of participating in the programme’, referred to participants’ overall experience of the programme and valued elements within it. The remaining themes referred to the programme as (3) a social milieu; (4) a place to learn; and (5) a place to promote positive emotional experiences.Discussion: Similar to previous studies, many people reported high acceptabilityand perceived value of the group programme, and its role in facilitatingadjustment and understanding of injury. Of particular importance was theopportunity to socialise with people who “can all relate”, in line with a growingemphasis on social rehabilitation. The findings especially highlight the relevanceof emotion-focused group programmes for ABI, promoting emotion regulation,and practical tools that are delivered optimistically. Further implications forpractice and future research include to focus on long term rehabilitation, asocial milieu, and strategies to support adjustment.

AB - Introduction: Group interventions are carried out routinely acrossneuropsychological rehabilitation services, to improve understanding of braininjury and aspects of impairment. Treatment provided in a group modality canbring additional perceived benefits, such as co-operative learning. However, there are very few studies which explore patient perceptions and experiences of such interventions. In the present study we investigated the experience of attending a group-based educational intervention for the consequences of acquired brain injury (ABI), which had a strong focus on emotion and emotion regulation.Methods: Using qualitative semi-structured interviews (approximately 20minutes), the study explores the lived experience of participating in the sevensession programme, the better to identify the perceived efficacy, salienceand value of individual elements. Twenty participants with ABI took part inindividual interviews, after completion of the group programme (the Brain InjurySolutions and Emotions Programme, BISEP). The study adopted a descriptivephenomenological philosophy, which focuses on lived experience to explorea phenomenon (i.e. the experience of BISEP). As regards methods, the studyemployed thematic analysis to cluster experiences into themes of meaning.Results: Five themes were identified: (1) ‘Long term consequences and psychological needs’, which related to the persistent nature of direct consequences of injury and adjustment, and how these result in a need for interventions such as BISEP. (2) ‘Positive experiences of participating in the programme’, referred to participants’ overall experience of the programme and valued elements within it. The remaining themes referred to the programme as (3) a social milieu; (4) a place to learn; and (5) a place to promote positive emotional experiences.Discussion: Similar to previous studies, many people reported high acceptabilityand perceived value of the group programme, and its role in facilitatingadjustment and understanding of injury. Of particular importance was theopportunity to socialise with people who “can all relate”, in line with a growingemphasis on social rehabilitation. The findings especially highlight the relevanceof emotion-focused group programmes for ABI, promoting emotion regulation,and practical tools that are delivered optimistically. Further implications forpractice and future research include to focus on long term rehabilitation, asocial milieu, and strategies to support adjustment.

U2 - 10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1384080

DO - 10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1384080

M3 - Article

VL - 15

JO - Frontiers in Psychology

JF - Frontiers in Psychology

SN - 1664-1078

M1 - 1384080

ER -