title: Hope: A further dimension for engaging family members of people with ABI.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Family member engagement is increasingly recognised as an influential factor in the rehabilitation continuum following Acquired Brain Injury, including the inpatient setting and longer-term community integration phases.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To explore the experiences of patients and family members about their involvement in brain injury rehabilitation.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study comprised individual and group interviews with 14 ex-patients and family members. Interviews explored effects of inpatient rehabilitation on family relationships. Interview audio recordings were analysed using an interpretive approach by two independent researchers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Findings clearly confirmed the significance of engaging family members in inpatient rehabilitation, and specifically reinforced the importance of informational, emotional, practical and peer support. However, the key finding of the study was the importance of hope, and the need for rehabilitation professionals to foster hope. Despite not having included any questions on this topic, all interviewees noted the importance of hope, some saw it as fundamental to positive outcomes, and many were unconvinced of rehabilitation professionals' concern to avoid false hope. Various dimensions of hope are explored.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study notes that hope has been identified as highly important in many areas beyond brain injury rehabilitation. Based on this small preliminary study, the issue of hope is seen as a key focus for future research.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Functioning and Health Research, Metro South Health District, Brisbane, Australia Centre for Community Science, School of Human Services, Griffith University, Brisbane, Australia.
authors.forename: Pim
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kuipers
authors.affiliation: School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.
authors.forename: Emmah
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Doig
authors.affiliation: Centre for Community Science, School of Human Services, Griffith University, Brisbane, Australia Acquired Brain Injury Outreach Service and Transitional Rehabilitation Programme, Metro South Health, Brisbane, Australia.
authors.forename: Melissa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kendall
authors.affiliation: Acquired Brain Injury Outreach Service, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Metro South Health, Brisbane, Australia.
authors.forename: Ben
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Turner
authors.affiliation: NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence in Nursing (NCREN), Centre for Health Practice Innovation, Griffith Health Institute, Griffith University, Brisbane, Australia Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane, Australia.
authors.forename: Marion
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mitchell
authors.affiliation: School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fleming
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004644:Emotions; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D065026:Hope; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012944:Social Support; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Brain injury; family relationships; hope; rehabilitation