Multimedia Education for Families of the Brain Injured

Once it is determined that a brain-injury victim will survive, family members are faced with amultitude of life-changing problems which they are not equipped to handle. Educational programs aresporadic for these families, who are shocked by the sudden event, unprepared for the drastic lifechanges they face, and untrained for the role of primary caregiver which they inevitably must assume.A viable, dependable method is needed to help families make emotional adjustments and prepare for thisnew role. The innovative use of multimedia and voice recognition technology can provide such amethod. We will develop an interactive case study method that allows family members of recentlybrain-injured individuals to interview members of more experienced families, their injured relatives, andthe health professionals involved. In Phase l, we will produce a prototype case study, make it availableto families who are new to the experience, and evaluate the method. In Phase II, we will create acomprehensive, 'multicultural library of interactive multimedia brain injury case studies and perform alongitudinal study of the effect.