Lifespace and occupational participation following acquired brain injury during driving disruption: a mixed methods study.

Purpose: To examine the lifespace of participants referred for occupational therapy driving assessment following acquired brain injury, to understand how, why, where and with whom access and participation in community-based occupations is occurring during the period of driving disruption.

Materials And Methods: The mixed methods, convergent research design utilised a travel diary and Lifespace Mobility Assessment-Composite quantitative elements and semi-structured interviews analysed qualitatively with an interpretive description lens.

Results: Forty-eight participants (56.25% male) aged between 26 and 65 years, left home on average once/day, primarily to conduct instrumental activities of daily living, health management, and social participation community-based occupations. Most reported restricted lifespace (54.2%) requiring assistance to conduct community occupations (68.1%). Support was primarily provided by family members (80.3%). Analysis of semi-structured interviews ( = 15) created three themes that shaped participant occupational experience during driving disruption: (i) changes to occupational participation; (ii) reliance on others for community access and participation; and (iii) trying to move forward.

Conclusion: The period of driving disruption following the onset of acquired brain injury is a time of occupational disruption which restricts lifespace, changing how, why, where and with whom participation in community-based occupations occurs. Rehabilitation facilitating occupational adaptation process to enhance community access capacity is indicated.