Feasibility study to be undertaken on young adults following a brain injury.
A new feasibility research study to be undertaken at the University of Edinburgh, funded by the RCN Foundation in partnership with SameYou.
When young adults experience a brain injury following a stroke, the rehabilitation services available to them are rarely designed to meet their particular needs. A patient under the age of 40 is likely to feel isolated during rehabilitation as a result of their age, as well as their injury.
In 2018, the RCN Foundation received funds raised by a CAF America campaign fronted by the actor Emilia Clarke. Working in partnership with SameYou, the brain injury charity founded by Clarke and her family, the Foundation implemented a programme of research and education designed to meet identify and meet the needs of young adults with an Acquired Brain Injury (ABI).
The programme began with a stakeholder forum to elicit views and feedback from nursing staff, academics, charities, and people with lived experience and their families, about the key issues and priorities that needed to be addressed.
Since then, the RCN Foundation has supported:
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A research study by the London School of Economics published in 2020. This showed that training specialist nurses to help young people who have experienced brain injury could result in significant cost savings for the NHS. Download the LSE research study (PDF) or executive summary.
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The Young Adult Rehabilitation Network Scheme (YARNS) study by the University of Edinburgh. The study mapped the lived experience of neurological rehabilitation for patients aged 18 to 40, following a brain injury. Read the YARNS study.
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The development, funding and delivery of the UK’s first-ever Postgraduate Certificate in Neurological Rehabilitation and Care, at the University of Edinburgh.
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A forthcoming feasibility study into psychological interventions for young people recovering from brain injuries.
Festival of Social Science!
Image: Sam Lane Photography
The YARNS project team attended their first Festival of Social Science event in October, exploring young adults' stroke recovery journey with members of the public.
Dr Catherine Clarissa shares her experiences leading and organising the YARNS Transitions public engagement events - read about it here!
Learn more about the project:
Brain injury nurse specialists could save the NHS £3.6m per year
With brain injury affecting more than two million people in the UK, a new report shows training more specialist nurses to help young people who have experienced brain injury could result in significant cost savings for the NHS.
YARNS study
The RCN Foundation funded a study to review and inform the development of age-appropriate support and rehabilitation for young adults experiencing stroke.
Nurse training to enhance care for brain injury survivors
A new online course has been developed at the University of Edinburgh in collaboration with the RCN Foundation to help nurses respond more effectively to the effects of neurological conditions.
Students share reflections on the UK's first neuro rehab course
Read about how students of the part-time postgraduate certificate in Neurological Rehabilitation and Care, which was funded by the Foundation, are finding the course.
'The course was an eye-opener'
In 2021 Glenn Bassig successfully applied for a fully funded place on the UK’s first PGcert in Neurological Rehabilitation and Care. Now a course graduate, he reflects on his experience.