Adults with Acquired Traumatic Brain Injury: Experiences of a Changeover Process and Consequences in Everyday Life

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to illuminate the changeover process, support, and consequences experienced by adults who acquired traumatic brain injury (TBI). Fifteen persons were in-depth interviewed using a semi-structured interview guide. Data were analyzed by latent-content analysis and structured into six themes. Consequences were negative as well as positive. Significant others were important as a driving force for training and life-situation. The informants were initially satisfied with social supports but in the longer term became more critical regarding accessibility to such supports. The majority had difficulties in returning to working life after injury. The outcomes seemed to be a prolonged process, probably never-ending, which gradually became integrated as a part of life.

KEYWORDS:

• traumatic brain injury
• changeover process
• everyday life
• content analysis

This article is built on one part of a doctoral thesis in disability research (Strandberg, 2006) carried out at the Swedish Institute for Disability Research (SIDR), Örebro University, Sweden. Thanks to Professor Keith Pringle at the Department of Social Sciences, Mälardalen University College, Sweden for proofreading the English.

Notes

1. Or “well done”; in Swedish, duktig.