TBI Web-Based Family Support
Funded by:
US Department of Education—National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research
Project Period:
October 1, 2010 – September 30, 2013
Project Contact, Project Director/Principal Investigator:
| Ann Glang, Ph.D. | glanga@wou.edu | 541-346-0594 |
Co-Investigators:
| Laurie Ehlhardt Powell, Ph.D. |
ehlhardtl@wou.edu | 541-346-0572 |
| Bonnie Todis, Ph.D. | todisb@wou.edu |
541-346-0595 |
Research Team:
|
Carol Dennis |
541-346-0573 |
Description:
TBI represents a significant public health problem, necessitating costly medical and social supports over the lifespan of the injured individual. Direct and indirect costs are estimated at over $56 billion annually. Changes in healthcare reimbursement and social service funding have left the responsibility for providing these supports resting on the affected families. Currently no comprehensive, accessible tool exists to assist families affected by TBI to become informed about and manage the complex challenges of TBI. Interactive multimedia (IMM) has been shown to be effective in providing the type of specific video-based training needed by families supporting a loved one with TBI.
This three-year project will develop and evaluate the efficacy of such a tool—an interactive, web-based information and training program to improve family member knowledge and skill in supporting a loved one experiencing cognitive, behavioral, and social challenges. The TBI Family Support site will be developed, tested and revised in partnership with a national group of consultants, family members, individuals with TBI, researchers, and practitioners. Product testing will occur across three phases, culminating in a randomized control trial with a national sample of family members of individuals with TBI.
Project Update
February 28, 2012
As we continue into the second half of our second year of TBI Family Support, we have completed: 1) web wireframes and visual designs for Family TBI, 2) one of seven training modules for Family TBI, “Problem-Solving”, and 3) completed plans to integrate the Family TBI project into an overall TBI Virtual Suite.
Our “Problem-Solving” module uses highly interactive instruction and targeted video vignettes to enable users to work through the “Goal-Plan-Do-Review” problem-solving model and allow for broad application in dealing with cognitive challenges associated with brain injury.
By the end of our second year, we will have completed interactive training modules for: 1) Cognitive Supports: Environmental Changes, 2) Cognitive Supports: Aids & Device, 3) Cognitive Supports: Routines – Routines, 4) Communications Strategies, 5) About TBI, and 6) Caregiver Supports. These mini-modules will be supported by both expert and user-generated content from the website.
October 19, 2011
As we begin the second year of TBI Family Support, we are on schedule with the development phase of the project. In our instructional content area, we are finalizing our instructional designs for training tools in problem-solving; cognitive, social, and behavioral supports; and caregiver supports. In addition to our targeted, branched learning designs, will be using a highly interactive communications tool to allow users to see, through guided interaction, how their communication approach can either promote or impair survivor motivation. All training exercises will allow the user to earn points and badges for exercises completed and are structured to complement the website as a resource tool for users to find ready solutions to real time problems. We are now writing scripts for our video production that is scheduled for mid January 2012. Video vignettes will provide compelling rational to change behavior to support effective problem solving approaches.
Our technical team is creating the second phase of wireframes for the TBI Family Support website that will include a content management system; a content aggregator to automatically collect content from the web to one central location for users to interact with; a WIKI that will enable user contributed content to identify tools and resources that the “user expert” is already using; and a “Super Hero” feature will allow users to inform friends, family, and other helpers of specific areas of need and allow this support group to offer specific help through a web-based organizer. In addition, the website will be designed to allow the user a “personal space” that can be personalized by the user to allow them to manage their favorite content and to pick up where they left off in previous visits.
Following a Continuous Improvement Management (CIM) approach, we are using a three-step successive approximation development process (See following diagram) whereby we design, create wireframe prototypes to test with our users (Usability Testing) and review with our consultants (WEBEX conferencing). The program is redesigned three times in an iterative process based on those recommendations. Currently we are in the second phase of three iterations (Wireframe 1,2,3). When the development testing is complete, we will progress to our first Alpha build in January 2012. The prototype product will be further tested with users and consultants in an additional three-step iterative process (Alpha, Beta, Gold). Currently we are recruiting testers in an on-going recruitment process. We are exploring the idea of creating a standing review board, made up of TBI survivors, TBI family members, and expert consultants to provide an ongoing review process.
The following process will be used for:
A) Iterative design – Wireframes 1, 2, and 3
B) Prototypes Alpha, Beta, and Gold
Diagram adapted from: Michael Allen Guide to e-Learning, Michael W. Allen.
July 6, 2011
In the second half of our first project year, we are designing the instruction and the technical functionality of the website to reflect findings from our formative research, input from our consultants, feedback from families of TBI survivors, and new research applicable to project needs.
We will use best practice in adult learning theory as we design our instruction around the concept that the user is the expert. Interactive tools will enable program users to reach higher levels of understanding of self-care, problem solving, and communication skills by reflecting on their own experience, sharing experiences through social media, and learning what works for other families. Users will be able to access appropriate resources and expert knowledge on an as-needed basis. Video vignettes will allow users to view frequent and problematic communication, cognitive, social, and behavioral issues and practice new skills to build competence.
April 11, 2011
Over the initial months of the project, we have conducted focus groups and interviews with 33 family members of individuals with TBI. We have also conducted interviews with 14 professionals, including neuropsychologists, psychologists, and speech/language therapists who work directly with individuals with TBI and their families. Through analysis of the transcribed tapes, we have identified common challenges family care providers encounter and have linked these with effective problem solving strategies.
Our next steps involve selecting specific content for video examples and planning how the website will work. Initial conversations have focused on whether we might use social media to deliver the content, and how to take advantage of video capabilities.
