Clinician influences on use of portable electronic memory devices in traumatic brain injury rehabilitation.
OBJECTIVE
To explore the relationship between a group of clinicians' own experience, training and confidence with portable electronic memory devices and their use of the same in traumatic brain injury (TBI) rehabilitation.


METHODS
Survey study.


METHODS
Eighty-one TBI clinicians from various disciplines and work settings completed a survey distributed in person or by mail.


RESULTS
Twenty-nine respondents (36%) reported using portable electronic memory devices with patients with TBI. Using regression analysis, respondent device training and confidence teaching patients device use were statistically associated with respondents' use of such devices in TBI rehabilitation.


CONCLUSIONS
Portable electronic memory device use with persons following TBI may be under-utilized. The importance of ongoing clinician training and of maximizing clinician confidence utilizing these devices in TBI rehabilitation is emphasized. The representativeness of the respondent sample is discussed. Specific training strategies and continued research needs are presented.
O'Neil-Pirozzi
Therese M
TM
Professional Development Department, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. toneilpi@lynx.dac.neu.edu
Kendrick
Hillary
H
Goldstein
Richard
R
Glenn
Mel
M
D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D004502:Education, Medical, Continuing; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D010820:Physicians / Q000523:psychology; D012656:Self-Help Devices