Clinical trial NCT02211339: A New Intervention for Social Communication Skills Following Brain Injury
Official title: An Investigation Into the Effectiveness of a Social Communication Skills Training Programme for Adults Following Brain Injury Using a Peer Learning Model
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Phase: NA
Conditions: Brain Injuries
Keywords: Social skills
Social communication
Cognitive communication
Traumatic brain injury
Acquired brain injury
Communication partner training
Peer partner training
Peer mentoring
Rehabilitation
Lead sponsor: University College, London
Sponsor class: OTHER
First posted: 2014-08-07
Enrollment: 12
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 18
Maximum age (years): 70
Standard ages: ADULT
OLDER_ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: no
Allocation: RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: PARALLEL
Intervention model description: An experimental parallel group design
Primary purpose: TREATMENT

Brief summary: To investigate the effectiveness of a peer-led social skills training intervention compared to social activity (usual care) to improve social communication skills following severe brain injury.

Detailed description: A pilot study first tested the feasibility of the approach and the sensitivity of existing outcome measures to changes in group social interaction. Following amendments to the pilot protocol, twelve new participants with severe ABI were recruited from a residential post-acute rehabilitation centre in April 2015. An experimental parallel group design was used to compare a peer-led group intervention to a staff-led social activity group. Participants were randomised to a peer-led intervention (n=6) or a staff-led social activity group (usual care) (n=6). The groups met twice a week for 8 weeks. A peer with severe ABI was trained separately to facilitate interaction in the peer-led group. The training took place in 16 individual sessions over 4 weeks. Group behaviour was measured twice at baseline, after intervention and at maintenance (4 weeks) using measures meeting reliability, validity and responsiveness criteria tested in the pilot study.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* Adults between 18 and 70 years
* A diagnosis of severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) or severe acquired brain injury (ABI) with similar cognitive presentation to TBI
* Minimum of six months post injury
* Evidence of a social communication impairment as a result of injury
* Ability to tolerate group activity

Exclusion Criteria:

* Significant aphasia
* Severe depression or psychiatric disorder
* Insufficient English to converse with peers
* Profound cognitive impairment

Primary outcomes:
measure: The Adapted Measure of Participation in Conversation (MPC): Interaction Scale
timeFrame: Baseline to maintenance (week 12)
measure: The Adapted Measure of Participation in Conversation (MPC): Transaction Scale
timeFrame: Baseline to maintenance (week 12)
measure: The Interactional Network Tool (INT)
timeFrame: Baseline to maintenance (week 12)
Secondary outcomes:
measure: La Trobe Communication Questionnaire (LCQ) (self-report)
timeFrame: Baseline to maintenance (week 12)
measure: La Trobe Communication Questionnaire (LCQ) (other-report)
timeFrame: Baseline to maintenance (week 12)
Other outcomes:
Locations:
Study officials:
affiliation: University College, London
name: Suzanne Beeke, PhD
role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
References:
citation: Howell S, Beeke S, Pring T, Varley R. Measuring outcomes of a peer-led social communication skills intervention for adults with acquired brain injury: A pilot investigation. Neuropsychol Rehabil. 2021 Aug;31(7):1069-1090. doi: 10.1080/09602011.2020.1760892. Epub 2020 May 14.