'Can be challenging but usually worth it!': International survey of rehabilitation professionals' experiences of social media use after acquired brain injury

BackgroundPeople with an acquired brain injury (ABI) can struggle to use social media after their injury, due to changes in their cognitive-communication skills, and would like help to improve their skills and connectivity. A focus group study in one Australian brain injury rehabilitation service recently found that ABI rehabilitation professionals are restrictive or reactive (rather than proactive) in their approach to supporting people in using social media after an ABI; however, it is unknown whether this finding reflects practice internationally.AimTo survey a larger international cohort of rehabilitation professionals working with people after ABI to understand their views and experiences of social media use after ABI and to explore ways of addressing social media use during rehabilitation.Methods and ProceduresParticipants were recruited via social media posts and email invitations between July 2020 and July 2022 to complete an online survey of 27 questions across three categories, 'Demographic Information' (5 questions), 'Own social media use' (12 questions), and 'Perspectives on social media use after ABI' (10 questions). Directed content analysis was used to explore and interpret the data.ResultsOf the 83 rehabilitation professionals who responded to the survey, 68 data sets met eligibility criteria for analysis. Most respondents were aged between 25 and 55 years (86%), and practiced across Australia (53%), the United Kingdom (24%), the United States (16%), Canada (3%), the European Union (3%) and Asia (1%). Most were speech pathologists (68%), occupational therapists (9%) or clinical neuropsychologists (7%). The mean length of experience working with people with ABI was 14.3 years (SD = 10.6). Participants identified benefits in social media use during ABI rehabilitation for social connection and inclusion, whilst also highlighting the risks and their own limitations in knowledge and expertise. Clinical guidance, policy, funding and resources were recommended to support clinicians to successfully address social media goals during rehabilitation.ConclusionRehabilitation professionals recommend that social media use be routinely considered during rehabilitation after ABI and report that they need greater access to knowledge, expertise, resources and policy to support this in clinical practice. Addressing social media goals in rehabilitation was reported to be complex and challenging yet rewarding for all involved. Ongoing robust research is urgently required to give rehabilitation professionals an evidence-based framework and resources for assessment and intervention in this space.