Analysis of the clinical context in the development and implementation of a supportive intervention for families of patients with acquired brain injury: a qualitative study
Introduction: Acquired brain injuries (ABI) are among the leading causes of disability in adults. Supporting the families of patients with ABI is part of good practice, but this is not systematic in Switzerland. Preceding the implementation of a new intervention, an analysis of the contextual factors was carried out. Objectives: The objectives of this study were to describe the perspectives of interdisciplinary management teams concerning the support of these families and to explore the contextual resources and obstacles of the intervention. Methods: A descriptive qualitative research was conducted in a clinical neurosciences department of a tertiary reference hospital. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with a targeted sample of 8 care managers, following an interview guide based on the Calgary Models of Family Assessment and Intervention. Data were analyzed using the inductive and deductive content analysis method. Results: Four main categories of interrelated systems (family system, care system, environment and collaboration) and 15 subcategories emerged from the analysis. Interprofessional collaboration and characteristics of the work environment were two key aspects for participants. Discussion and conclusion: Participants felt that current care does not adequately consider families nor integrate them sufficiently. Concrete perspectives for improvement such as the systematic and structured integration of families from the acute phase of hospitalization, as well as the development of interprofessional collaboration are recommended to support families of individuals with ABI.