Advocacy Skills Training for Families Impacted by TBI

描述（由申请人提供）：在美国，有390万成年人因创伤性脑损伤（TBI）而残疾。这些人生活在社会，行为，身体和认知功能的重大和永久性改变。如果他们要获得必要的服务，以解决创伤性脑损伤的影响，家庭需要成为有效的倡导者。然而，脑损伤对家庭的重大影响使他们没有能力倡导服务，特别是在这个康复选择减少的时代。第一阶段项目成功地为受TBI影响的家庭开发了一个互动多媒体光盘，重点是用于倡导解决TBI成人社会行为服务的有效沟通技巧。第二阶段的发展将调整光盘材料以供因特网使用，并扩大内容，以包括：（a）增加四项宣传技能，（B）增加关切领域（例如，身体/医疗问题、认知功能、心理社会问题、职业规划、社区融合和药物滥用/误用），（c）根据家庭成员向脑损伤患者提供的支持程度定制信息的能力，以及（d）重复访问功能。此外，网上聊天室将提供社会支持。这个互动式多媒体（IMM）计划将为家庭成员提供宣传TBI相关服务所需的关键技能培训。IMM格式的好处包括：已被证明的有效性;低成本;个性化的、自定进度的掌握学习;对用户进度的客观跟踪;以及无论忙碌繁忙的家庭日程如何，都可以获得培训材料。CD-ROM产品的市场包括受其成年亲属TBI影响的所有家庭、非家庭护理人员和提供TBI相关服务的康复专业人员。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): In the United States, there are 3.9 million adults disabled as the result of traumatic brain injury (TBI). These people live with significant and permanent alterations in social, behavioral, physical, and cognitive functioning. If they are to obtain the services that are necessary to address the effects of TBI, families need to be effective advocates. However, the significant impact of brain injury on families leaves them poorly equipped to advocate for services, especially in this era of shrinking availability of rehabilitation options. This Phase I project successfully developed an interactive multimedia CD-ROM for families affected by TBI, focusing on effective communication skills used to advocate for services to address social behavior in adults with TBI. Phase II development will adapt the CD-ROM materials for Internet use and expand content to include: (a) four additional advocacy skills, (b) additional areas of concern (e.g., physical/medical issues, cognitive functioning, psychosocial concerns, vocational planning, community integration, and substance abuse/misuse), (c) the ability to tailor information by degree of support provided by the family member to the individual with brain injury, and (d) a repeat-visit function. In addition, a web-based chat room will provide social support. This interactive multimedia (IMM) program will provide family members training in key skills needed to advocate for TBI-related services. The benefits of the IMM format include: proven effectiveness; low cost; individualized, self-paced mastery learning; objective tracking of the users' progress; and availability of training materials regardless of busy family schedules. The market for the CD-ROM product includes all families impacted by the TBI of their adult relative, non-family caregivers, and rehabilitation professionals providing TBI- related services.