A multidisciplinary active lifestyle aftercare programme for individuals with acquired brain injury (ABI-MOTION): protocol of a practice-based implementation study.

Abstract

This study aims to enhance aftercare for individuals with acquired brain injury (ABI), focusing on an active lifestyle and health-related quality of life, by implementing a multidisciplinary intervention using a network of outpatient rehabilitation and community-based services, and by evaluating its implementation process and outcomes. The ABI-MOTION intervention includes 5 activities delivered through a network of outpatient rehabilitation and community-based services: outpatient rehabilitation, education flyer, introduction to a sports consultant, maximum of 8 hours of sports consultancy and follow-up by a rehabilitation physician. This hybrid type 2 implementation study focuses on implementation outcomes and uses the RE-AIM (Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation and Maintenance) framework for a process evaluation (primary) and effect evaluation (secondary). Sixty individuals with ABI will be followed over time, allowing interim evaluation and optimisation of ABI-MOTION. The first group (control) receives outpatient rehabilitation and follow-up, the intervention group receives all 5 activities of the ABI-MOTION intervention. Data related to the implementation will be collected using field notes, focus groups and semi-structured interviews. To explore the effects of the ABI-MOTION intervention, functional and cognitive tests, self-report questionnaires and home measurements will be conducted just before the intervention and at 3, 6 and 12 months post-discharge. The study protocol is approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of Erasmus MC (MEC-2023-0623). The results of the study will be disseminated in peer-reviewed journals, conferences and stakeholder meetings. NCT06058351.