Self-report: Extent of Recovery and Obstacles to Recovery
Categories: Rehabilitation and Recovery
As time passes, how do individuals with traumatic brain injury describe the extent of their recovery, and what do they identify as keeping them from a full recovery?
Past Studies
Past Studies state that traumatic brain injury can affect the way individuals think, act, feel, and move their bodies. Individuals that have difficulty moving their bodies can need help from another person, extra time, or an assistive device to perform self-care tasks, such as dressing and showering or to move their body from place to place, as with walking or using a wheelchair. Past studies
Traditionally, the rehabilitation team focused on goals they felt were necessary to assist an individual to obtain the highest degree of independent living. It had been the belief that individuals with brain injuries may not have the insight or thought process to fully understand or identify what functional areas should be the priority in rehabilitation. In recent years, it has been recognized that in addition to focusing on what the rehabilitation team feels is valued, they should also find out what is important to the individual with a traumatic brain injury regarding rehabilitation goal setting and treatment. Research is lacking regarding
This Study
This Study included 157 individuals with a broad range of traumatic brain injury severity levels, but who mostly experienced moderate traumatic brain injuries. The participants were surveyed to determine their perceptions about the extent of their recovery at one, six, and twelve months after their injury dates. A subgroup was additionally asked to identify what they felt was keeping them from a full recovery.
During the one-year period, the participants’ concerns about physical problems decreased and those related to thinking skills increased. Nevertheless, they reported that physical problems were their biggest obstacle to making a full recovery. The researchers state that not only are individuals with traumatic brain injury more aware of physical
Who May Be Affected By These Findings
Individuals with traumatic brain injuries and their loved ones, researchers, healthcare providers
Caveats
The researchers suspect that the participants reported an increase in problems related to thinking skills over time as the participants returned to familiar settings, situations, and activities and gained
Bottom Line
The individuals with traumatic brain injury reported that they felt they continued to recover over time. Overall, they reported that physical difficulties were the main problem that prevented them from a full recovery. As time passed and people returned to their usual activities, it appeared the participants became more aware of the impact of their difficulties with thinking skills.
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Find This Study
Powell, J.M., Machamer, J.E., Temkin, N. R., & Dikmen, S.S. (2001). Self-report of