title: Does feedback influence awareness following traumatic brain injury?
abstract: This study examined the relationship between the nature of feedback provided by close-others and self-awareness in individuals with traumatic brain injury (TBI). Using a cross-sectional design, 69 individuals with mild-to-severe TBI and their close-others completed the Awareness Questionnaire, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Trail Making Test-Part B and Feedback about Cognitive Difficulties Questionnaire, between 3 months and 20 years post-injury. Results showed cognitive and/or behavioural issues post-injury were identified in 97% of individuals with TBI and over 80% of these were provided with feedback by close-others at least sometimes after making errors. Close-others reported two main reasons for not providing feedback about problems: (1) not wanting to hurt the feelings of the injured individual and (2) pointing out errors would be detrimental to the injured individual's rehabilitation. Whilst nearly 60% of the individuals with TBI were reported to detect an error once they received feedback, they showed low levels of acceptance/acknowledgement in response to feedback. Analyses including injury-related and emotional variables failed to identify any mediated or moderated relations between frequency of feedback and self-awareness. The high rates of feedback by close-others but low acceptance/acknowledgement of that feedback by individuals with TBI suggests that clinicians may need to work in partnership with close-others to facilitate supportive relationships for effective delivery of feedback.
authors.affiliation: a School of Psychology and Psychiatry , Monash University , Melbourne , Australia.
authors.forename: Cally
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Richardson
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: McKay
authors.forename: Jennie L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Ponsford
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology; D030141:Feedback, Psychological; D005260:Female; D033062:Friends / Q000523:psychology; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D057566:Self Report; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Close-other; Depression; Feedback; Self-awareness; Traumatic brain injury