Improving services for patients with disorders of consciousness post acquired brain injury: evaluation of family and staff education packages in a neurosciences unit

Erin Kelly; Maeve O’Neill; Emma Finch; Anna O’Gorman

doi:10.1071/IB24118

RESEARCH ARTICLE (Open Access)

Next Contents Vol 26(3)

Improving services for patients with disorders of consciousness post acquired brain injury: evaluation of family and staff education packages in a neurosciences unit

Erin Kelly

^A ^B ^* , Maeve O’Neill ^C , Emma Finch

^A ^B ^D ^E and Anna O’Gorman ^F

+ Author Affiliations

- Author Affiliations

^A Speech Pathology Department, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane, Qld, Australia.

^B Centre for Functioning and Health Research (CFAHR), Metro South Health, Brisbane, Qld, Australia.

^C Physiotherapy Department, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane, Qld, Australia.

^D Research and Innovation, West Moreton Health, Ipswich, Qld, Australia.

^E School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Qld, Australia.

^F Occupational Therapy Department, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane, Qld, Australia.

^* Correspondence to: erin.kelly2@health.qld.gov.au

Handling Editor: Julia Schmidt

Brain Impairment 26, IB24118 https://doi.org/10.1071/IB24118

Submitted: 14 November 2024 Accepted: 19 August 2025 Published: 12 September 2025

© 2025 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)). Published by CSIRO Publishing on behalf of the Australasian Society for the Study of Brain Impairment. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC-ND)

Abstract

Background

International guidelines recommend a specialised, multidisciplinary approach to optimise outcomes post disorders of consciousness (DoC), with family education the cornerstone of management. Despite this, multidisciplinary staff report reduced confidence and skill in the management of patients with DoC, and education provision to families is inconsistent. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of DoC education packages in enhancing self-perceived knowledge, confidence and skill of staff and families surrounding acute DoC management.

Methods

Standardised education packages were developed and delivered to: (1) neurosciences staff, and (2) families of patients with DoC. Pre and post education surveys were used to measure family and staff self-perceived knowledge, confidence and skill in management of patients with DoC. Non-parametric statistics were utilised to analyse the quantitative data, whereas thematic analysis was used to analyse open-ended responses.

Results

Twenty-six family members and 86 health professionals were recruited. There was a statistically significant improvement across all areas of self-perceived knowledge, confidence and skill post introduction of the education packages (all P < 0.05), with the packages perceived as beneficial. Thematic analysis identified six themes and 12 subthemes.

Conclusions

DoC family and staff education packages can enhance family and staff self-perceived knowledge, confidence, and skill surrounding management of patients with DoC.

Keywords: acute, assessment and management, confidence, disorders of consciousness, family education, intervention, knowledge, sensory stimulation, staff and family, staff education.

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