Skip to main content
Kent Academic Repository

Experiences of patients with traumatic brain injury and their carers during transition from in-patient rehabilitation to the community: a qualitative study

Abrahamson, Vanessa, Jensen, Jan, Springett, Kate, Mohamed, Sakel (2016) Experiences of patients with traumatic brain injury and their carers during transition from in-patient rehabilitation to the community: a qualitative study. Disability and Rehabilitation, 39 (17). pp. 1683-1694. ISSN 0963-8288. (doi:10.1080/09638288.2016.1211755) (KAR id:56964)

PDF Author's Accepted Manuscript
Language: English
Download this file
(PDF/673kB)
[thumbnail of Experiences of patients with traumatic brain injury.pdf]
Request a format suitable for use with assistive technology e.g. a screenreader
PDF Author's Accepted Manuscript
Language: English

Restricted to Repository staff only
[thumbnail of Abrahamson et al_TBI_2016 online.pdf]
Official URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09638288.2016.1211755

Abstract

Purpose: To explore the experiences of individuals who have had a severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) and their carers in the first month post-discharge from in-patient rehabilitation into living in the community.

Method: Using a qualitative approach underpinned by critical realism, we explored the narratives of 10 patients and nine carers using semi-structured interviews approximately one month post-discharge. Thematic analysis was carried out independently by two researchers.

Results: Firstly, perceptions of support were mixed but many patients and carers felt unsupported in the inpatient phase, during transitions between units and when preparing for discharge. Secondly, they struggled to accept a new reality of changed abilities, loss of roles and loss of autonomy. Thirdly, early experiences post-discharge exacerbated fears for the future.

Conclusions: Most patients and carers struggled to identify a cohesive plan that supported their transition to living in the community. Access to services required much persistence on the part of carers and tended to be short-term, and therefore did not meet their long-term needs. We propose the need for a case manager to be involved at an early stage of their rehabilitation and act as a key point for information and access to on-going rehabilitation and other support services.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1080/09638288.2016.1211755
Uncontrolled keywords: traumatic brain injury, carers, qualitative
Subjects: H Social Sciences > HM Sociology
R Medicine > RD Surgery
R Medicine > RT Nursing
Divisions: Divisions > Division for the Study of Law, Society and Social Justice > School of Social Policy, Sociology and Social Research > Centre for Health Services Studies
Depositing User: Vanessa Abrahamson
Date Deposited: 25 Aug 2016 14:13 UTC
Last Modified: 17 Aug 2022 12:21 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/56964 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

University of Kent Author Information

  • Depositors only (login required):

Total unique views for this document in KAR since July 2020. For more details click on the image.