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

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 July 2019

India Bohanna ,
Michelle Fitts ,
Katrina Bird ,
Jennifer Fleming ,
John Gilroy ,
Alan Clough ,
Adrian Esterman ,
Paul Maruff  and
Martin Potter
India Bohanna*
Affiliation:
College of Healthcare Sciences, James Cook University, Smithfield, Queensland, Australia
Michelle Fitts
Affiliation:
Centre for Alcohol Policy Research, La Trobe University, Melbourne 3086
Katrina Bird
Affiliation:
College of Public Health, Medical & Veterinary Science, James Cook University Cairns Campus, Cairns, Queensland, Australia
Jennifer Fleming
Affiliation:
School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
John Gilroy
Affiliation:
Health Systems and Global Populations Faculty Research Group, Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Alan Clough
Affiliation:
Community-based Health Promotion and Prevention Studies Group, Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University Cairns Campus, Cairns, Queensland, Australia
Adrian Esterman
Affiliation:
Sansom Institute for Health Research, University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
Paul Maruff
Affiliation:
Department of Medicine, Austin Health, Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia
Martin Potter
Affiliation:
School of Communication and Creative Arts, Deakin University School of Communication and Creative Arts, Burwood, Victoria, Australia
*
*Corresponding author. Email: india.bohanna@jcu.edu.au
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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.

Keywords

Traumatic brain injuryAboriginal and Torres Strait Islander healthnarrativerehabilitationcultural safety
Type
Articles
Information
Brain Impairment , Volume 20 , Special Issue 2: Brain Impairment in Indigenous Populations , September 2019 , pp. 160 - 170
Copyright
© Australasian Society for the Study of Brain Impairment 2019 

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Footnotes

†

Joint first authors

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