Improving Personal Self-advocacy Skills for Individuals with Brain Injury: A Randomized Pilot Feasibility Study

Objective: To investigate the feasibility of a self-advocacy intervention for individuals with acquired brain injury (ABI).

Design: Two-arm, parallel-design, randomized feasibility study.

Methods: Twelve participants, 1-year or more post-ABI (TBI and cerebral vascular accident (CVA)), were randomized into treatment/control groups. The treatment group received a group intervention and workbook; the control group received the workbook only. Outcome measures, taken at baseline, post-treatment and 6-weeks follow-up, included the General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES), Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) and Goal Attainment Scale (GAS) and two exploratory measures developed for the study: the Self Advocacy Scale (SAS) and the Personal Advocacy Activity Scale (PAAS).

Results: Participants were successfully recruited and treated per protocol. The treatment group exhibited improvements from baseline to post-treatment on all measures; the control group improved on the GSES and declined on all others. Both groups exhibited improvement on all measures at follow-up, except the PAAS, which declined. There were no significant group differences on non-parametric analysis at any assessment points; however, the magnitude of change at post-treatment approached significance for the SAS and PAAS.

Conclusions: Initial feasibility for the methodology was demonstrated. Positive trends were noted. Further research could result in an evidence-based intervention to enhance self-advocacy post-ABI.