CompletedPhase 2Phase 3ACTRN12613000585729

Do people with severe traumatic brain injury benefit from making errors? A randomized control trial of the efficacy of error-based and errorless learning training

A randomized controlled trial comparing Error-based learning with Errorless Learning to improve awareness of deficits, skills generalisation and long term social outcomes in an adult Traumatic Brain Injury sample

Sponsor

NHMRC

Enrollment

135 participants

Start Date

Jul 1, 2013

Study Type

Interventional

Conditions

Traumatic Brain Injury

Summary

Poor skills generalization poses a major barrier to successful outcomes of rehabilitation after traumatic brain injury (TBI). Error-based learning (EBL) is a relatively new intervention approach that aims to promote skills generalization by teaching people internal self-regulation skills, or how to anticipate, monitor and correct their own errors. This study aims to compare the efficacy of EBL and errorless learning (ELL) for improving awareness of deficits, skills generalization and long-term social outcomes after TBI.

Eligibility

Sex: Both males and femalesMin Age: 18 YearssMax Age: 65 Yearss

Inclusion Criteria1

Participants from each centre will be eligible for the study if they are: aged 18-65 years, have had a severe TBI (as determined by posttraumatic amnesia and Glasgow Coma Scale), are deemed medically stable and live within a 50km radius of each metropolitan centre.

Exclusion Criteria1

Participants will be excluded if they are unable to provide informed consent; have a combination of severe behavioral/motor/perceptual/language and cognitive impairment which would preclude the ability to undertake research of this nature; and/or psychotic symptoms or severe mood symptoms not under effective management.

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Interventions

Error-based learning (EBL) involves the use of systematic feedback and other metacognitive techniques to teach people self-regulation skills (i.e., self-reflection, anticipation, self-monitoring and self-correction of errors) during task performance. Manualized treatment protocols have been developed for both interventions (errorless and error-based learning) from pilot research. Uniform elements of both error-based learning and errorless learning include: a) 8 weekly treatment sessions of approximately 90-120 minutes conducted in the participant’s own home; b) use of verbal reinforcement for correct performance; c) learning to prepare a main meal (a stir-fry) for the first 4 training sessions (1-4); and d) development of a set of errands for participants to learn in the home or community as the second multi-tasking training activity for the last 4 sessions (5-8). Occupational therapists experienced with working with individuals with brain injuries will administer the face-to-face, in home rehabilitation program.