The attention atlas virtual reality platform maps three-dimensional (3D) attention in unilateral spatial neglect patients: a protocol.

Background: Deficits in visuospatial attention, known as neglect, are common following brain injury, but underdiagnosed and poorly treated, resulting in long-term cognitive disability. In clinical settings, neglect is often assessed using simple pen-and-paper tests. While convenient, these cannot characterise the full spectrum of neglect.

Immersive virtual reality gameplay detects visuospatial atypicality, including unilateral spatial neglect, following brain injury: a pilot study.

Background: In neurorehabilitation, problems with visuospatial attention, including unilateral spatial neglect, are prevalent and routinely assessed by pen-and-paper tests, which are limited in accuracy and sensitivity. Immersive virtual reality (VR), which motivates a much wider (more intuitive) spatial behaviour, promises new futures for identifying visuospatial atypicality in multiple measures, which reflects cognitive and motor diversity across individuals with brain injuries.

Methods: In this pilot study, we had 9 clinician controls (mean age 43 years; 4 males) and 13 neurorehabilitation inpatients (mean age 59 years; 9 males) recruited a mean of 41 days post-injury play a VR visual search game.

The role of the physical environment in stroke recovery: Evidence-based design principles from a mixed-methods multiple case study.

Hospital design can impact patient outcomes, but there is very little healthcare design evidence specific to stroke rehabilitation facilities. Our aim was to explore, from the patient perspective, the role of the physical environment in factors crucial to stroke recovery, namely, stroke survivor activity (physical, cognitive, social), sleep, emotional well-being, and safety. We conducted a mixed-methods multiple-case study at two inpatient rehabilitation facilities in Victoria, Australia, (n = 20 at Case 1, n = 16 at Case 2) using "walk-through" semi-structured interviews, behavioural mapping, questionnaires, and retrospective audit.

Efficacy of Multimodal Sensory Therapy in Adult Acquired Brain Injury: A Systematic Review.

Adults who experience an acquired brain injury often experience disorders of consciousness, physical difficulties, and maladaptive behaviours. Multimodal sensory therapy may benefit brain injured patients, however the extent this therapy can facilitate rehabilitation is not well understood. This systematic review aimed to synthesize multimodal sensory therapy research for adults affected by acquired brain injury.

Why hospital design matters: A narrative review of built environments research relevant to stroke care.

Healthcare facilities are among the most expensive buildings to construct, maintain, and operate. How building design can best support healthcare services, staff, and patients is important to consider. In this narrative review, we outline why the healthcare environment matters and describe areas of research focus and current built environment evidence that supports healthcare in general and stroke care in particular.

Built environments for inpatient stroke rehabilitation services and care: a systematic literature review.

Objectives: To identify, appraise and synthesise existing design evidence for inpatient stroke rehabilitation facilities; to identify impacts of these built environments on the outcomes and experiences of people recovering from stroke, their family/caregivers and staff.

Design: A convergent segregated review design was used to conduct a systematic review.

Data Sources: Ovid MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science and Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature were searched for articles published between January 2000 and November 2020.

What's in a Building? A Descriptive Survey of Adult Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility Buildings in Victoria, Australia.

Objective: To identify all the services that offer inpatient rehabilitation in Victoria, Australia, and to describe the buildings in which these services are housed, including their size, age, whether or not they were purpose-built, whether or not they are colocated with a tertiary hospital, the proportion of single-bed rooms, and ward layout.

Design: Cross-sectional survey of inpatient rehabilitation buildings. Data were collected via telephone questionnaire and websites.

Safe and Supportive Neurorehabilitation Environments: Results of a Structured Observation of Physical Features Across Two Rehabilitation Facilities.

Objective: This research aimed to identify the extent to which physical features of two neurorehabilitation units appeared to support positive patient experience and recovery.

Background: Neurorehabilitation inpatient facilities must be focused on safety management and efficiency of care, as well as being supportive of the patient experience. While occupational safety and risk management is paramount, the supportive nature of the physical setting for inpatient neurorehabilitation following spinal cord injury or acquired brain injury is unclear.

A Framework for Designing Inpatient Stroke Rehabilitation Facilities: A New Approach Using Interdisciplinary Value-Focused Thinking.

Aim: To use Value-Focused Thinking to investigate what is important in the design of inpatient stroke rehabilitation facility buildings.

Background: Many stroke patients require inpatient rehabilitation in a dedicated facility. Rehabilitation facilities are healthcare spaces, but they are also learning spaces where patients practice targeted tasks to acquire new skills and to reacquire skills and abilities that were compromised as a result of their stroke.

Using the natural environment to address the psychosocial impact of neurological disability: A systematic review.

Engaging with the natural environment contributes to favourable psychosocial health outcomes. A systematic review of research published before June 2017 was conducted to establish how engaging with natural environments impact the psychosocial health of people with a neurological disability. Identified studies included populations with dementia (n=14), brain injury (n=2), and stroke (n=2).

"Everything Happens in the Hallways": Exploring User Activity in the Corridors at Two Rehabilitation Units.

Objectives: This research aimed to examine the role of the corridors in specialist inpatient rehabilitation units to inform future design of these spaces.

Background: In healthcare settings, such as rehabilitation units, corridors have often been designed simply as spaces allowing movement between other locations. However, research suggests that corridors may be places where important social and care-related activities take place.

What housing features should inform the development of housing solutions for adults with neurological disability?: A systematic review of the literature.

Despite the recent emphasis in Australian political, academic, and legislative narratives to more actively promote real housing choice for people with high healthcare and support needs, there is a lack of understanding regarding the specific housing features that might constitute better housing solutions for this population. Inclusive housing provision in Australia rightly emphasises safety and accessibility issues but often fails to incorporate factors related to broader psychosocial elements of housing such as dwelling location, neighbourhood quality, and overall design. While the importance of these broader elements appears obvious, it is not yet clear what specific housing features relate to these elements and how they might contribute to housing solutions for people with high healthcare and support needs.

Nominal group technique for individuals with cognitive disability: a systematic review.

Rationale: Considering the perspectives of individuals with cognitive disability is important for their participation in their self-directed health care. The nominal group technique (NGT) has been identified as a method to gather opinions of people with cognitive disability; however, a synthesis of methodological considerations to undertake when employing the approach among people with cognitive disability is non-existent.

Method: A systematic review guided by the preferred reporting items for systematic review and meta-analysis protocols was undertaken.

Making every Australian count: challenges for the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) and the equal inclusion of homeless Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples with neurocognitive disability.

This article highlights the dearth of accurate evidence available to inform the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) regarding the extent and nature of neurocognitive disability amongst homeless Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Without accurate prevalence rates of neurocognitive disability, homeless Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are in danger of not being counted by the NDIS and not receiving supports to which they are entitled. Addressing this knowledge gap is challenged by a range of factors, including: (1) the long-term effect of profound intergenerational disenfranchisement of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people; (2) Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural perspectives around disability; (3) the generally unrecognised and poorly understood nature of neurocognitive disability; (4) the use of research methods that are not culturally safe; (5) research logistics; and (6) the absence of culturally appropriate assessment tools to identify prevalence.

A place to call my own: Young people with complex disabilities living in long-term care.

It is important to consider the nature of home in more detail when thinking about living environments for vulnerable groups of people, especially as it has been found that the nature of home can impact on the quality of life. The aim of this study was to understand the "lived experience" of home for a group of young people with complex disabilities who had recently relocated to a specially designed residential apartment building. Multiple domains of home, as they were experienced over time, were examined through a series of semi-structured interviews conducted with seven residents at their apartments.

Perspectives of self-direction: a systematic review of key areas contributing to service users' engagement and choice-making in self-directed disability services and supports.

Self-directed disability support policies aim to encourage greater choice and control for service users in terms of the health and social care they receive. The proliferation of self-directed disability support policies throughout the developed world has resulted in a growing amount of research exploring the outcomes for service users, and their families and carers. Our understanding of the issues faced by people with disabilities, particularly how they make health and social care decisions and the key areas that determine their engagement with service providers within a self-directed environment is limited.

Holistic Practice in Traumatic Brain Injury Rehabilitation: Perspectives of Health Practitioners.

Given that the literature suggests there are various (and often contradictory) interpretations of holistic practice in brain injury rehabilitation and multiple complexities in its implementation (including complex setting, discipline, and client-base factors), this study aimed to examine the experiences of practitioners in their conceptualization and delivery of holistic practice in their respective settings. Nineteen health practitioners purposively sampled from an extensive Brain Injury Network in Queensland, Australia participated in individual interviews. A systematic text analysis process using Leximancer qualitative analysis program was undertaken, followed by manual thematic analysis to develop overarching themes.

Study protocol: developing a decision system for inclusive housing: applying a systematic, mixed-method quasi-experimental design.

Background: Identifying the housing preferences of people with complex disabilities is a much needed, but under-developed area of practice and scholarship. Despite the recognition that housing is a social determinant of health and quality of life, there is an absence of empirical methodologies that can practically and systematically involve consumers in this complex service delivery and housing design market. A rigorous process for making effective and consistent development decisions is needed to ensure resources are used effectively and the needs of consumers with complex disability are properly met.