Traumatic Brain Injury and Sexuality: User Experience Study of an Information Toolkit

Abstract

Background After having sustained a traumatic brain injury (TBI), individuals are at risk of functional impairments in information processing, abstract reasoning, executive functioning, attention, and memory. This affects different aspects of communicative functioning. Specific strategies can be adopted to improve the provision of health information to individuals with TBI, including the development of written materials and nonwritten media. Objective A user-centered design was adopted to codevelop four audiovisual presentations, a double-sided information sheet, and a checklist aimed at informing individuals about post-TBI sexuality. The last phase of the project was the assessment of the user experience of the information toolkit, based on the User Experience Honeycomb model. Methods Overall, two small group discussions and one individual semistructured interview were conducted with individuals with moderate to severe TBI. Results The participants mentioned that the toolkit was easily usable and would have fulfilled a need for information on post-TBI sexuality during or after rehabilitation. They mostly agreed that the minimalist visual content was well-organized, attractive, and relevant. The information was easily located, the tools were accessible in terms of reading and visibility, and the content was also considered credible. Conclusions Aspects such as usability, usefulness, desirability, accessibility, credibility, and findability of information were viewed positively by the participants. Further piloting of the toolkit is recommended to explore its effects on the awareness of the potential sexual repercussions of TBI in individuals and partners.

Co-designing for behavioural change: understanding barriers and enablers to addressing sexuality after traumatic brain injury and mapping intervention strategies in a multi-disciplinary rehabilitation unit

“…However, the persistent lack of clinical attention despite availability of resources and a growing body of research providing health professionals with clinical tools aligns with the notorious research-to-practice gap faced by clinical researchers (Morris et al 2011;Marier-Deschênes et al 2020;Fraser et al 2022). It further highlights the difficulty of achieving team-wide behavioural change and underscores the importance of interventions that target behavioural regulation at environmental and structural levels to ensure that meaningful and lasting changes can be made (Mark and Carl 2015).…”

Evaluating a Novel Treatment Adapting a Cognitive Behaviour Therapy Approach for Sexuality Problems after Traumatic Brain Injury: A Single Case Design with Nonconcurrent Multiple Baselines

“…Taylor and Davis [ 31 ] later published the extended PLISSIT (Ex-PLISSIT) model which proposes that all levels begin with explicit giving of permission. In previous TBI sexuality research, more emphasis has been placed on addressing the first two levels through the development and evaluation of handouts, booklets, and information resources [ 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 ]. As a result, there is little information on interventions for persistent and complex post-TBI sexuality problems at the Specific Suggestions and Intensive Therapy levels.…”