Patient perspectives on navigating the field of traumatic brain injury rehabilitation: a qualitative thematic analysis.
PURPOSE
This study aimed to provide an understanding of the lived experience of rehabilitation in adults with traumatic brain injury (TBI) from hospital discharge up to four years post-injury.


MATERIALS AND METHODS
We used a qualitative explorative design with semi-structured in-depth interviews. Twenty participants with TBI were included from a level I Trauma Center in Denmark at 1-4 years post-injury. Qualitative thematic analysis was applied for data analysis.


RESULTS
Three main themes emerged during analysis: A new life, Family involvement, and Rehabilitation impediments. These themes and their sub-themes described the patient perspective of TBI and rehabilitation post hospitalization. Participants reassessed their values and found a new life after TBI. Family caregivers negotiated rehabilitation services and helped the participant to overcome barriers to rehabilitation. Although participants were entitled to TBI rehabilitation, they had to fight for the services they were entitled to.


CONCLUSION
Individuals with TBI found ways of coping after injury and created a meaningful life. Barriers to TBI rehabilitation were overcome with help from family caregivers rather than health care professionals. Future studies need to find ways to ease the burden on family caregivers and pave the way for more accessible rehabilitation in this vulnerable group of patients. Implications for rehabilitation TBI rehabilitation might benefit from:    • Increased transparency in rehabilitation options    • More systematic follow-up programs    • Age-appropriate rehabilitation facilities    • Inclusion of patient and family in the planning of long-term rehabilitation.
['Graff|Heidi J|HJ|', 'Christensen|Ulla|U|', 'Poulsen|Ingrid|I|', 'Egerod|Ingrid|I|']
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological D000328:Adult D000070642:Brain Injuries, Traumatic D017028:Caregivers D003718:Denmark D005260:Female D006297:Health Services Accessibility D006801:Humans D007407:Interviews as Topic D008016:Life Change Events D008297:Male D008875:Middle Aged
traumatic brain injury rehabilitation family caregiving Healthcare utilization illness trajectory qualitative research