ABSTRACT
Objective
To examine feasibility of participant-created implementation intentions, delivered as text message reminders, to enhance goal-related activity in persons with chronic, moderate/severe traumatic brain injury (TBI).
Design
Pilot randomized controlled trial on effects of 8 weeks receiving goal-related implementation intentions (GI) compared to control condition, educational review regarding goals (GR).
Participants
Eight persons with moderate/severe TBI nearing discharge from intensive outpatient brain injury treatment.
Measures
Neuropsychological tests to characterize cognitive status; Participation with Recombined Tools-Objective (PART-O) assessing community activity, social relations and productivity; Brief Symptom Inventory-18 (BSI-18) assessing depression, anxiety and overall distress; Goal Attainment Scales (GAS). PART-O, BSI-18 and GAS were completed at baseline and 8 weeks; significant others provided ratings on PART-O and GAS.
Results
Participants replied to SMS messages at high rates. Statistically significant group × time interactions with medium-to-large effect sizes favouring the GI group were observed on PART-O community activity and social relations. Neither BSI-18 nor GAS revealed differences or trends by group. Qualitative results suggested overall acceptance and success of SMS reminders.
Conclusions
Given positive preliminary findings, implementation intentions delivered by text holds promise as a simple, low-cost intervention to help people with moderate/severe TBI to implement goal-relevant behaviours.
