Cognitive rehabilitation: a pilot survey of therapeutic modalities used by Canadian occupational therapists with survivors of traumatic brain injury

Abstract

This pilot study used survey methodology to gather initial information from Canadian occupational therapists on 1) the delivery of cognitive rehabilitation services for survivors of traumatic brain injury and 2) the therapeutic approaches and modalities used currently to manage residual cognitive impairments. A questionnaire was developed, field-tested and mailed to 27 sample sites across Canada, selected non-randomly. Twenty returned questionnaires (74%) were included in the data pool. The findings revealed that a wide range of cognitive impairments were seen very often, with impairments in memory being most common. Respondents used both a cognitive remediation and compensatory approach and a combination of therapeutic modalities to address impairments of orientation, attention, and memory. There was an interesting and overlapping range of specific modalities identified. Inpatient and outpatient services were offered to survivors, primarily within the first year post-injury. These occupational therapists used various resources to develop expertise in cognitive rehabilitation. Possible implications of the pilot study findings for Canadian occupational therapists are high-lighted and discussed.