The experience and acceptability of smartphone reminder app training for people with acquired brain injury: a mixed methods study

Smartphones are useful compensatory memory aids, yet training on how to use them is seldom offered as part of rehabilitation for acquired brain injuries (ABIs). We aimed to explore the experience and acceptability of a smartphone training intervention in 26 people with ABI who participated in a pilot randomized controlled trial comparing three skills training approaches. Participants completed questionnaire ratings and a semi-structured interview, six weeks post-training. Most participants rated the training as enjoyable (80.8%) and reasonable in duration (88.5%). Others reported that more than one training session was needed to learn the app (34.6%). Five themes were identified from qualitative data through thematic analysis: (1) Attitudes and pre-existing factors, (2) Experiencing the intervention, (3) Tailoring the intervention to the individual, (4) Facilitators and barriers to implementation and (5) Enhancing smartphone use in everyday life. These themes were juxtaposed with a theoretical framework of acceptability, which indicated that some elements (e.g., having a structured session and a supportive trainer) contributed to the acceptability of the intervention by minimizing training burden and increasing self-efficacy. Tailoring the training to the individual’s technological skills and lifestyle, providing post-training resources and involving family members were identified as factors that could improve intervention acceptability.