1. Family members’ experiences of driving disruption after acquired brain injury
- Author
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Phyllis Liang, Louise Gustafsson, Janelle Griffin, Jacki Liddle, and Jennifer Fleming
- Subjects
Adult ,Male ,Automobile Driving ,030506 rehabilitation ,Neuroscience (miscellaneous) ,Poison control ,Context (language use) ,Suicide prevention ,Occupational safety and health ,Developmental psychology ,03 medical and health sciences ,0302 clinical medicine ,Quality of life (healthcare) ,Cost of Illness ,Surveys and Questionnaires ,Injury prevention ,Developmental and Educational Psychology ,medicine ,Humans ,Family ,Acquired brain injury ,Aged ,Human factors and ergonomics ,Middle Aged ,medicine.disease ,Caregivers ,Brain Injuries ,Quality of Life ,Female ,Neurology (clinical) ,0305 other medical science ,Psychology ,030217 neurology & neurosurgery ,Clinical psychology - Abstract
1) To explore family members' lived experiences of driving disruption at early and later stages of the recovery continuum following acquired brain injury (ABI). 2) To describe health-related quality of life of family members of individuals with ABI who are experiencing driving disruption.Mixed methods phenomenological research approach.Semi-structured interviews and health-related quality of life questionnaires were conducted with 15 family members of individuals with ABI (early group: 1-12 months post-injury, n = 6; later group:1 year post-injury, n = 9).Two main themes were identified: Different for everyone: how driving disruption affects families, and Making it harder: context of driving disruption. The challenges of driving disruption were reported more frequently and with a more intense focus by family members who were caring for their relative for more than 1 year post-injury. This group also reported higher caregiver strain and poorer health-related quality of life. Reduced satisfaction with life, poor mental health and affected family functioning were reported by both groups.Driving disruption impacts on family members and has long-lasting consequences. It is important for clinicians to work with family members to manage these challenges even years after ABI and consider individual contextual factors.
- Published
- 2017