Evaluation of a capacity-building program to enhance evidence-based practice of cognitive rehabilitation providers: a pilot study.

INTRODUCTION

Cognitive rehabilitation is a complex and challenging area of brain injury rehabilitation practice, and specialized training programs are needed to upskill practitioners to ensure effective, evidence-based interventions. We developed a cognitive rehabilitation capacity-building program (CogCap) to address this need.

AIMS: The aims of this study were to pilot the CogCap program with a multidisciplinary group of cognitive rehabilitation providers; to evaluate whether it improved participants' self-ratings of knowledge, skills, and confidence in cognitive rehabilitation; and to explore their perceptions and experiences of the program.

METHODS

CogCap was evaluated in a pilot study with 12 cognitive rehabilitation providers, who included occupational therapists, speech pathologists, and psychologists working in brain injury rehabilitation. CogCap components included online self-paced learning modules, workshops, and expert masterclasses completed over a 3-month period. Measures included degree of participation in CogCap components; pre- and post-self-ratings of knowledge, skills, and confidence; and qualitative interviews of CogCap participants about their experience.

RESULTS

There were high levels of engagement with the workshops and significant improvements, with large effect sizes in perceived knowledge ( d  = 0.81, p  < 0.05), skills ( d  = 0.65, p  < 0.05), and confidence ( d  = 1.30, p  < 0.01). Four themes were derived from the qualitative interview data: (1) learning through the program, (2) engaging in the program, (3) enhancing practice, and (4) supporting future change.

CONCLUSIONS

The pilot evaluation provides preliminary evidence of CogCap's effectiveness and acceptability to cognitive rehabilitation providers. Larger scale implementation and evaluation is recommended.

SPANISH ABSTRACT: http://links.lww.com/IJEBH/A334.