TRACE 2.0 Project
Description
This project entitled ‘Improving system transitions and access for complex rehabilitation populations is a project being conducted by The Hopkins Centre (a collaboration between Griffith University and the Division of Rehabilitation, Metro South Health). The research program builds on and extends promising pilot work which has assessed the feasibility of methods and processes. The Trajectories of Rehabilitation across Complex Environments (TRaCE) study within Metro South Health successfully recruited and consented 165 participants (ABI and SCI), over a 12-month period (March 2017 to March 2018), at discharge from acute inpatient rehabilitation, and assessed the feasibility of collecting a range of outcome measures post hospital.
The current study aims to:
- Describe system transitions across the recovery trajectory for SCI and ABI rehabilitation populations and examine these in terms of features and complications
- Examine the pattern of access to specialist and mainstream services across the recovery trajectory of the SCI and ABI populations and the relationship to wellbeing
- Assess system transition and access experiences and acceptability to the SCI and ABI populations
Rationale
An acquired brain injury (ABI) or spinal cord injury (SCI) can be abrupt and devastating for individuals and families. Many will face numerous care transitions and lifelong need for a mix of specialist and mainstream services. Quality transitions and timely access will have a major bearing on their recovery. Unfortunately, the complex mix of transitions and access are understudied after a catastrophic event. This hampers efforts to improve system performance. The proposed program of work will provide evidenced based insights into the transition and recovery trajectories of these populations, change over time, and specifically the at-risk groups, thereby highlighting points for systemic intervention and better planning.
Participants
Individuals with a new diagnosis of acquired brain injury or spinal cord injury
Key Features
This is a three-year study (2019 to 2022) building on an extensive body of research
Funding
The study is being conducted with funding from the 2019 Metro South HHS Research Support Scheme, Program Grant ($250,000).
Research/Evaluation Strategies
The Improving Systems Transitions and Access (TRaCE 2.0) research program will enhance the initial cohortstudy with a more deliberate focus on transitions within the recovery trajectory. It will describe the patterns and features of access from discharge up to 12 months and investigate the association between service use and wellbeing at three, six and twelve months using longitudinal survey and data linkage methods.
Demographic details, injury severity, length of stay, discharge destination, and standard outcome measures collected by the units (e.g. Function Independence Measure and Glasgow Outcome Scale) will be collected at discharge. Participants or proxy will be contacted by a trained researcher to complete follow-up surveys on service and support use, unmet need, and wellbeing.
Additionally, a sample of participants (30-40) will be recruited for qualitative interviews to collect in-depth information about transition experiences, access acceptability and unmet needs.
Publications
There are no publications to date from this study.