The Potential of a Narrative and Creative Arts Approach to Enhance Transition Outcomes for Indigenous Australians Following Traumatic Brain Injury

Abstract

Background:Increasingly, narrative and creative arts approaches are being used to enhance recovery after traumatic brain injury (TBI). Narrative and arts-based approaches congruent with Indigenous storytelling may therefore provide benefit during the transition from hospital to home for some Indigenous TBI patients. This qualitative study explored the use and impact of this approach as part of a larger, longitudinal study of TBI transition with Indigenous Australians.Method:A combined narrative and arts-based approach was used with one Indigenous Australian artist to describe his transition experiences following TBI. Together with the researchers and filmmaking team, the artist was involved in aspects of the process. The artist contributed two paintings, detailing the story of his life and TBI. Based on the artworks, a film was co-created. Following the viewing of the film, impacts of the narrative and arts-based process were examined through semi-structured interviews with the artist, a service provider and a family member. Multiple sources of data were used in the final thematic analysis including transcripts of the interviews and filming, paintings (including storylines) and researcher notes.Results:Positive impacts from the process for the artist included positive challenge; healing and identity; understanding TBI and raising awareness.Discussion:This approach may enable the individual to take ownership over their transition story and to make sense of their life following TBI at a critical point in their recovery. A combined narrative and arts-based approach has potential as a culturally responsive rehabilitation tool for use with Indigenous Australians during the transition period following TBI.

A Qualitative Study on the Transition Support Needs of Indigenous Australians Following Traumatic Brain Injury

“…All research team members completed an Indigenous Research Protocols workshop and training in Indigenous Research Methodologies, delivered by Aboriginal researcher (JG). As described elsewhere (Bohanna et al, 2019), one participant from the project created artwork and accompanying storylines about his transition experiences from hospital to home after TBI. With the participant's permission, the artwork and storylines were developed into posters for use by the research team to explain the project to other prospective patients interested in participating in the project.…”

Understanding the Lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Women with Traumatic Brain Injury from Family Violence in Australia: A Qualitative Study Protocol

“…All information regarding the study will be provided verbally and in writing prior to the interview. To minimise the risk of stigmatisation of potential participants and to ensure information regarding the study is understood fully by the participants, a flipchart that uses images and plain, easy English to describe key aspects of the project (e.g., what is a brain injury, reasons for the study, and participant rights) as well as video resources developed in a previous TBI study will be used [ 33 ].…”

“…Since then, two large scale Australian studies, ‘The transition from hospital to home’ (2016–2018; Queensland and Northern Territory) and ‘Healing Right Way’ (2017–2021; Western Australia), focused only on the transition period of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, which consists of hospital admission through to discharge and return to community and country [ 29 , 30 , 31 ]. Culturally responsive community rehabilitation models and resources were developed and implemented from these works [ 32 , 33 ]. Despite these promising advancements, the research area has narrowly focused on those patients who accessed hospital care alone.…”

“I Don’t Think It’s on Anyone’s Radar”: The Workforce and System Barriers to Healthcare for Indigenous Women Following a Traumatic Brain Injury Acquired through Violence in Remote Australia

“…The facilitators drew upon real case examples from work the partner organisation does with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples with acquired brain injuries in communities, as well in the court and prison systems. Augmenting the workshops were digital storytelling resources of people sharing their personal journeys following traumatic brain injury, developed under a previous TBI project [ 32 ].…”