Preparing Adolescents for Life after School (PALS) Project: A Randomised Controlled Trial of a Coaching Intervention for Young People with Acquired Brain Injury

Abstract

Introduction: Existing resources to support adolescents with acquired brain injury (ABI) in transition from school to the ‘adult world’ are variable. This study evaluated an intervention using a coaching approach to support adolescents during this transition phase.Method: The study design was a parallel-group randomised controlled trial (RCT). Participants (n = 43) aged 14–19 years were randomised to intervention (n = 21) or no-intervention control (n = 21) conditions. The intervention group received six coaching sessions over an average of 22 weeks. Outcome measures evaluated changes reported by the adolescent (satisfaction, emotional functioning and hope) and their parent (participation, behaviour and support needs).Results: Relative to baseline, there was no significant improvement for those in the intervention group in comparison to the control group on any of the outcome measures.Conclusion: The results of this RCT do not support coaching as an intervention for adolescents with ABI.

A Systematic Review of the Assessment of Support Needs in People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

“…Finally, the studies have collected samples of participants with different disabilities to study their support needs. Specifically, the support needs of adults with psychiatric disorders [ 39 , 46 , 47 , 60 , 75 , 90 ], motor disability [ 40 , 61 , 72 , 87 , 89 , 91 , 92 , 93 ] or several of these [ 42 , 109 ]; and youth with autism spectrum disorders [ 83 , 84 ] and motor disability, primarily cerebral palsy [ 31 , 32 , 50 , 88 ] have been studied.…”

“…The support needs scores have been used to assess the effectiveness of six interventions [ 51 , 62 , 68 , 73 , 74 , 92 , 108 ], focused on the development of life skills or related to employment. Of these, only Tate et al (2019) found no effect on support needs, as assessed through CANS, after applying a coaching program for transition to adulthood to youths with brain injury [ 92 ].…”