Acquired Brain Injury and Naturalistic Strategy Use: Analysis of Strategies Used during Completion of the Multiple Errands Test

• Main Author: Andre, Melanie
• Other Authors: Dawson, Deirdre R.
• Language: en_ca
• Published: 2009
• Subjects: strategy; brain injury; 0382; 0384; 0633
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/1807/18140

This study furthers our understanding of naturalistic strategy use by ABI survivors with executive dysfunction. Strategies used by 14 stroke survivors, 12 TBI survivors and 25 matched controls on the Baycrest Multiple Errands Test (BMET) were scored. Relationships between strategy use and BMET performance were found for all groups (rs=.30-.71). TBI participants experienced monitoring difficulties (rs=-.38 to -.71). Greater use of task setting strategies was associated with better performance for all participants. Results support the theory of fractionation of the prefrontal lobes and the suggestion for further fractionation of the task setting and monitoring processes. Strategy use was consistently correlated with scores on the AMPS (rs=.30-.75) indicating good ecological validity. Differences in patterns of strategy use between stroke and TBI participants suggest these types of ABIs do not affect real-world performance in the same way. This study indicates the importance of understanding naturalistic strategy use for cognitive rehabilitation after ABI.