Abstract:
Background: After surviving severe acquired brain injury (ABI), individuals often require lifelong support to rebuild meaningful lives. Person-centred, goal-oriented rehabilitation is believed to enhance motivation and engagement; however, the long-term role of personally set goals remains underexplored.
Objective: This study examined the long-term impact of a structured, user - driven goal -setting programme in in dividuals with acquired brain injury (ABI) during chronic-phase rehabilitation. We employed an internal two-tier taxonomy to classify general and specific goals, analysing their distribution, stability, and evolution over a five-year period (2019–2023), and explored associations between goal-setting patterns, demographic factors (age, gender, region), and quality of life (QOLIBRI).
Methods: A five-year longitudinal observational study was conducted at Center Naprej (Maribor and Murska So bota units) from 2019 to 2023 with 62 participants (service users) living with ABI. Using the “Wheel of Life” tool, individuals formulated personal goals across 10 life domains. Goals were categorised as broad general goals and concrete specific goals. In total, 1,375 goals were analysed (253 general, 1,122 specific). Descriptive and correla tional analyses explored goal trends over time and associations with age, gender, region, and quality of life (QO LIBRI) scores.
Results: Participants consistently prioritised goals related to knowledge, health, and emotional well-being. General goals (approximately 18%) were more stable over time, reflecting enduring personal values, while specific goals (approximately 82%) captured targeted actions. Younger individuals set more goals than older ones; gender and re gional differences were also observed. A positive trend was found between active goal pursuit and perceived quality of life.
Conclusion: Over five years, individuals with ABI maintained stable personal goals reflecting their values and aspirations. The user-driven goal-setting process, supported by a structured taxonomy and self-assessment tool, fostered long-term engagement. These findings support the integration of person-centred goal-setting frameworks into chronic-phase rehabilitation, where individuals continue to live in their communities after completing medical and post-acute treatment. Such approaches can optimise motivation, enhance autonomy, participation, quality of life, and uphold the dignity of each individual.
