Women Family Members’ Experiences of Involvement in Adult Inpatient Traumatic Brain Injury Rehabilitation

Credentials Display

Mary Egan, PhD, OT Reg. (Ont.)
Isabelle Savage, OT Reg. (Ont.)

Abstract

Background: Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) rehabilitation is an intensive process aimed at reducing disability. The experience of care is lived not only by the patient with TBI, but by the family as well.

Methods: Five women family members of patients with TBI were interviewed. Based on a descriptive qualitative approach informed by phenomenology, thematic analysis was completed to draw a general sense of family members’ description of their involvement.

Results: Two themes were identified: Wearing different hats and a balancing act, that highlight the many roles undertaken by the women family members as well as the difficulties they encountered.

Conclusion: Occupational therapists may assist the health care team in an attempt to identify strategies to lessen the burden on the family.

Comments

Disclosure Statement: The authors report no conflict of interest.

Recommended Citation

Savage, I., & Egan, M. (2018). Women Family Members’ Experiences of Involvement in Adult Inpatient Traumatic Brain Injury Rehabilitation. The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy, 6(3). https://doi.org/10.15453/2168-6408.1457