Traumatic brain injury state planning grant: Preparing for change in a rural state

Abstract

Purpose: The overarching purpose of this work was to generate a framework on which to build a traumatic brain injury (TBI) system-support action plan for individuals with a TBI living in a rural state.

Methods: Four research questions were posed aimed at describing rural service/support needs and service satisfaction among persons with a TBI, as well as rural service/support availability as defined by providers. One hundred and ninety-four providers/agencies and 250 individuals/family members completed one of two versions (provider/agency, individual/family member) of a Needs and Resources Assessment.

Results: Data analyses indicated that the majority of individual respondents lived at an impoverished income level and lived with a TBI for ∼12 years. Quality of life was perceived as significantly lower after the TBI than before. Employment decreased significantly following a TBI. Reasons for unemployment included a perceived inability to work, problems regarding proper accommodation and/or perceptions regarding being chosen as suitable job candidates.

Conclusions: Provider data confirmed that many important services are rarely available or specific to TBIs. Basic assistance with employment, cognitive training and occupational therapy were among those most needed. Paradoxically, a high proportion of individuals reported feeling satisfied with most services. Applications of these data along with recommendations for other rural states are described.

• Traumatic brain injury
• rural
• state planning grant

Notes

Notes

1. For readability, unless reference is made to the sub-class known as frontier, the general term rural includes all non-urban areas.

2. Since the completion of data collection, a statewide telehealth programme has been developed and is beginning to offer services: www.telida.isu.edu