Family needs at one and two years after severe traumatic brain injury: a prospective study of changes and predictors

ABSTRACT

Objective: To assess changes in family needs between the first and second years after severe traumatic brain injury (sTBI) and to identify factors predicting unmet family needs.

Design: Prospective Norwegian multicenter cohort study.

Participants: The family members of 110 patients with sTBI were followed up at one year, and family members of 70 patients also at two years after trauma.

Main measure: The Family Needs Questionnaire-Revised (FNQ-R).

Results: Mean ratings of met family needs changed with a small decline between one year and two years post-injury on the FNQ-R subscales of Health Information and of Community Support Network. Proportions of needs met at one and two years ranged between 28% and 55%. Family needs most often met were from the Health Information subscale, and needs most often unmet were from the Emotional Support subscale. Caring for older patients, patients with more functional disabilities, female patients and being a spouse of a patient were associated with statistically significantly greater unmet family needs.

Conclusion: Family members of survivors of traumatic brain injuries experience high levels of unmet needs, and rating of met needs tends to decline from one to two years post-injury. The identified predictors of unmet needs can contribute to guiding services following sTBI.

KEYWORDS:

• Traumatic brain injury
• relatives
• family
• support systems
• chronic

Declaration of interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest.

Additional information

Funding

This study was conducted with grants from the Norwegian ExtraFoundation for Health and Rehabilitation and the North Norwegian Health Authorities.