Clinician expectations for portable electronic devices as cognitive-behavioural orthoses in traumatic brain injury rehabilitation

OBJECTIVE: To ascertain experiences and expectations of clinicians as to uses of portable electronic devices such as hand-held computers as cognitive-behavioural orthoses in TBI rehabilitation. DESIGN: Survey study. PROCEDURES: A survey developed and piloted with the input of clinician focus groups was completed by 81 TBI clinicians from a variety of disciplines and work settings. RESULTS: About half of the respondents reported prior exposure to clients with TBI who had used portable electronic aids. Of 10 key cognitive/behavioural areas, respondents saw most potential for devices in the areas of learning/memory, planning/organization and initiation; less potential was seen for social/interpersonal or behavioural difficulties. However, many respondents also identified learning and memory abilities as essential client characteristics for successful use of portable electronics. Cost was identified as a significant barrier to use of portable devices in rehabilitation. Respondents expressed low confidence overall in their ability to guide clients in use of devices; those who reported personal use were significantly more confident than those who did not. CONCLUSION: Clinicians believe that new electronic devices have potential for treatment of some cognitive impairments, but clinical experimentation may be limited by costs of technology and low clinician confidence.