Healing is a community: an exploratory study of #TraumaticBrainInjury content on Instagram

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) can result in reduced social participation due to changes in cognition and communication. This study explored Instagram #TraumaticBrainInjury posts to determine how the platform was being used by people with brain injury and how TBI was discussed. Exploratory, qualitatively-driven, mixed-methods research design. Content analysis was conducted on the top 100 #TraumaticBrainInjury posts that met the study criteria. From each category identified in content analysis, two-three posts were further analysed using visual data analysis, then reflexive thematic analysis was used on this data to gain deeper understanding. Content analysis generated four categories: Promotional, Motivational, Educational, and Life Experiences. Thematic analysis of nine visual data narratives generated four themes: Sharing their Stories, Navigating Challenge, Anticipating More, and Building Community. Community groups and people with TBI facilitated social connections and exchange about symptoms, recovery, struggles, and day-to-day life. Organisations and health professionals used the platform to provide information and promote their services to people with TBI. However, health professionals are under-utilised Instagram to promote social interactions and advocacy. The overall sentiment of the #TraumaticBrainInjury community was supportive and positive, suggesting integration of the platform into TBI rehabilitation would be beneficial for targeting social isolation. Instagram is used by businesses, organisations, and people with brain injury to promote, educate, motivate, and share lived experiences.Instagram may allow for greater interaction and connection after brain injury, facilitating “healing” and relieving social isolation.Health professionals should integrate social media into traumatic brain injury rehabilitation to support community reintegration, yet caution needs to be applied due to the unregulated nature of content on the platform.Guidance for health professionals is provided with these study finding being used to generate evidence-based recommendations for Instagram use that provide tailored advice for users who experience cognitive difficulties. Instagram is used by businesses, organisations, and people with brain injury to promote, educate, motivate, and share lived experiences. Instagram may allow for greater interaction and connection after brain injury, facilitating “healing” and relieving social isolation. Health professionals should integrate social media into traumatic brain injury rehabilitation to support community reintegration, yet caution needs to be applied due to the unregulated nature of content on the platform. Guidance for health professionals is provided with these study finding being used to generate evidence-based recommendations for Instagram use that provide tailored advice for users who experience cognitive difficulties.