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Humanising brain injury rehabilitation: a qualitative study examining humanising approaches to engagement in the context of a storytelling advocacy programme

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 October 2021

Kate D’Cruz Open the ORCID record for Kate D’Cruz [Opens in a new window] ,
Jacinta Douglas Open the ORCID record for Jacinta Douglas [Opens in a new window]  and
Tanya Serry
Kate D’Cruz*
Affiliation:
Discipline of Occupational Therapy, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia Living with Disability Research Centre, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia Summer Foundation, Melbourne, Australia
Jacinta Douglas
Affiliation:
Discipline of Speech Pathology, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia Living with Disability Research Centre, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia Summer Foundation, Melbourne, Australia
Tanya Serry
Affiliation:
Living with Disability Research Centre, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia School of Education, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia
*
*Correspondence: Email: k.dcruz@latrobe.edu.au
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Abstract

Objectives:

Building upon the findings of an earlier study that explored the experience and impact of narrative storytelling following acquired brain injury (ABI), this study sought to examine the engagement of storytelling facilitators with storytellers.

Methods:

Transcripts of in-depth interviews conducted with six storytelling facilitators were analysed drawing upon content analysis. The analysis included a process of mapping previously analysed data (D’Cruz et al., 2020b) to a humanising values framework (Galvin & Todres, 2013; Todres et al., 2009).

Results:

The findings of this study provide insights into how facilitators engaged in humanising practice within the context of a storytelling advocacy programme. The facilitator participants ranged in years of facilitation experience from 1 to 11 years, with a mix of professional backgrounds, including health care (3), journalism (1) and community development (2). Analysed facilitator data mapped to each of the eight dimensions of the framework (insiderness, agency, uniqueness, togetherness, sense-making, personal journey, sense of place and embodiment), with a breadth of codes represented in each dimension, revealing the depth of humanisation.

Conclusions:

This study extends our understanding of approaches to engagement with adults living with ABI, demonstrating the humanising potential of storytelling. Furthermore, the findings help us to think about what it means to be human, guiding us to find ways to better partner with and support adults living with brain injury.

Keywords

Narrative storytellingAcquired brain injuryRehabilitationPerson-centred practiceTherapeutic relationships
Type
Original Article
Information
Brain Impairment , Volume 23 , Special Issue 1: Humanising Connections: Bringing people together in rehabilitation , March 2022 , pp. 91 - 103
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2021. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of Australasian Society for the Study of Brain Impairment

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