Perspectives of survivors of traumatic brain injury and their caregivers on long-term social integration

Abstract

Background: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) has damaging impacts on victims and family members’ lives and their long-term social integration constitutes a major challenge.

Purpose: The objective of the study was to document the repercussions of TBI on victims’ long-term social integration (10 years post-trauma) and the contribution made by the services received from the point of view of TBI victims and family caregivers. This article examines the determinants of long-term social integration as well as the impact of TBI on family caregivers.

Methods: A qualitative design was used (semi-directed interviews). The sample consisted of 22 individuals who had sustained a moderate or severe TBI and 21 family caregivers.

Results: The results show that TBI is an experience that continues to present difficulties, even 10 years after the accident, and that different barriers contribute to this difficulty: not going back to work, depressive episodes, problems in relationships and sequellae. Family caregivers must help TBI victims confront the barriers in their path.

Implications: This study adopts a longitudinal perspective to help professionals determine how to intervene with TBI victims and their families. It validates the importance of having clients and family caregivers describe their reality.

• Brain injuries
• community reintegration
• qualitative research
• psychosocial aspects of illness

Notes

^†This concept of the handicap production process (HPP) has served as a conceptual basis for many of the tools developed for rehabilitation, the living skills measure (MHAVIE) and the environment quality measure (MQE) (Fougeyrollas and Noreau, 1997 [31]).