Lifespace and occupational participation following acquired brain injury during driving disruption: a mixed methods study
Creators: name: Bassingthwaighte, Louise
name: Gustafsson, Louise
name: Molineux, Matthew
Publisher: name: Taylor & Francis
Year: 2024
Subjects: subject: Environmental Sciences not elsewhere classified
subject: Ecology
subject: FOS: Biological sciences
subject: Sociology
subject: FOS: Sociology
subject: Biological Sciences not elsewhere classified
subject: Science Policy

description: To examine the lifespace of participants referred for occupational therapy driving assessment following acquired brain injury, to understand how, why, where and with whom access and participation in community-based occupations is occurring during the period of driving disruption. The mixed methods, convergent research design utilised a travel diary and Lifespace Mobility Assessment-Composite quantitative elements and semi-structured interviews analysed qualitatively with an interpretive description lens. Forty-eight participants (56.25% male) aged between 26 and 65 years, left home on average once/day, primarily to conduct instrumental activities of daily living, health management, and social participation community-based occupations. Most reported restricted lifespace (54.2%) requiring assistance to conduct community occupations (68.1%). Support was primarily provided by family members (80.3%). Analysis of semi-structured interviews (<i>n</i> = 15) created three themes that shaped participant occupational experience during driving disruption: (i) changes to occupational participation; (ii) reliance on others for community access and participation; and (iii) trying to move forward. The period of driving disruption following the onset of acquired brain injury is a time of occupational disruption which restricts lifespace, changing how, why, where and with whom participation in community-based occupations occurs. Rehabilitation facilitating occupational adaptation process to enhance community access capacity is indicated. The period of driving disruption following the onset of acquired brain injury is a time of occupational disruption which restricts lifespace and influences participation in community-based occupations.Occupational therapists should provide an individualised potential pathway to return to driving with frequent and varied means of reinforcing interim advice to abstain from driving.Implementing occupational adaptation can progress community participation goals by establishing community access skills, habits, routines and confidence to foster participation and satisfaction and rebuild occupational identity following acquired brain injury. The period of driving disruption following the onset of acquired brain injury is a time of occupational disruption which restricts lifespace and influences participation in community-based occupations. Occupational therapists should provide an individualised potential pathway to return to driving with frequent and varied means of reinforcing interim advice to abstain from driving. Implementing occupational adaptation can progress community participation goals by establishing community access skills, habits, routines and confidence to foster participation and satisfaction and rebuild occupational identity following acquired brain injury.