Feedback interventions for impaired self-awareness following brain injury: A systematic review

Abstract

Objective: To determine the effectiveness of self-awareness interventions that involve a component of feedback for adults with brain injury. Design: Systematic review. Data sources: Randomized and non-randomized studies identified by searching CINAHL, Cochrane Systematic Review Database, Embase, Medline, OTSeeker, PsycBITE, PsycINFO, Web of Science, clinical trial registries, and reference lists of eligible articles. Results: Twelve studies of varied methodological quality met the inclusion criteria, of which 3 were randomized controlled trials involving a total of 62 people with brain injury of mixed aetiology. The type of feedback intervention and outcomes assessed were heterogeneous. The pooled estimate of improvement in self-awareness after completing a feedback intervention was of moderate effect size (Hedges' adjusted g?=?0.64; 95% confidence interval: 0.11-1.16). Conclusion: Feedback interventions produced modest improvements in self-awareness. Further research is required to determine the effects of integrating feedback interventions into rehabilitation programmes and the impact of this on functional outcome.