Experiences of inpatient rehabilitation from the perspective of persons with acquired brain injury

Background Perspectives of individuals with acquired brain injury (ABI) regarding inpatient rehabilitation experiences can inform patient-centered care; however, these voices are under-represented in the literature. Purpose To explore the experiences, needs, and preferences of patients from an ABI inpatient rehabilitation program in Ontario. Methods Using an interpretive description approach, we interviewed 12 participants and analyzed the transcripts inductively to generate themes. Findings We identified three major themes: (1) Life Rerouted - participants felt their lives diverted due to ABI, with rehabilitation seen as a way to return to pre-injury life, (2) Autonomy within Rehab highlighted the perceived importance of personal autonomy in decision-making within rehabilitation, and (3) Life (and Recovery) Go On reflected an ongoing recovery process after discharge - leading to mixed emotions. An overall message, "re-establishing personal identity is important to the recovery process," reflected theories of biographical disruption and relational autonomy. Implications Our findings provide a patient perspective for clinicians and administrators to consider. We found that ABI was significantly disruptive to personal identity - resulting in tensions in autonomy while attempting to reclaim a sense of identity. We suggest counseling services and strategies supporting post-injury adjustment, along with ways for rehabilitation professionals to enhance patient autonomy where possible.