Promoting financial empowerment after brain injury: Findings from focus groups.

This was a small qualitative study of 25 people in seven focus groups, so the ideas may not represent all adults living with brain injury. Only two caregivers took part, and caregiver recruitment was difficult during the later years of the COVID-19 pandemic. The sample included more women and no people who identified as nonbinary, which may introduce gender bias. The study took place in Manitoba, Canada, so the ideas depend on that province's services, benefits, banks, and policy environment. Data were analysed by focus group rather than by individual, so it is unclear which participant contributed each idea. The project advisory group had helped develop the overall financial empowerment project and included researchers, so some ideas may reflect the project team's perspective. The research team was homogeneous in gender, sexual orientation, cisgender status, advanced education, and country, which may have influenced analysis. No financial empowerment idea was tested, so the study cannot show whether any program improves financial capability or well-being.

The study was funded in part by the Government of Canada's Social Development Partnerships Program (Disability component). The opinions in the publication do not necessarily reflect those of the Government of Canada. Dr. Engel's research program also received Canadian Institutes of Health Research funding and internal University of Manitoba funds. The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest.

Do not treat these ideas as evidence that financial empowerment programs improve outcomes. This focus-group study generated suggestions and did not test any intervention.