Home is "a different planet" when transitioning from hospital after acquired brain injury: can digital technology help bridge the two worlds?

Abstract

Purpose: Adjusting to life following an acquired brain injury (ABI) is challenging particularly navigating the timepoint of transitioning from hospital-to-home. Digital technology has been proposed to mitigate broader transitional issues, however whilst still in its infancy more research is recommended within the ABI population. It is important to understand individual experiences in healthcare design. This study aims to identify for people with ABI [1] their unique problems experienced when transitioning hospital-to-home, and [2] how they believe digital technological solutions could solve these issues.

Materials and methods: Interpretive description guided the review of experiences of four participants with ABI from a larger participatory action research project, where co-design workshops explored digital technological solutions supporting the transition home from inpatient ABI rehabilitation. Comparative analysis was used to analyse the data and develop themes.

Results: Six themes emerged including "being told I was ready is different to being ready," "home is a different planet," digital technology can "help connect me to the real word" and "ensure everyone is on the same page."

Conclusion: Participants' desire to use tailored digital technology as a transition home strategy highlighted opportunities to manage expectations, and focus on unique preparation needs of participants, rather than organisational discharge goals.