Potrebe svojcev pacientov po nezgodni poškodbi glave : kvalitativna raziskava
Family members' needs after a traumatic brain injury : a qualitative study

slovenian

2020

volume 54, issue 1

Zbornica zdravstvene in babiške nege Slovenije - Zveza strokovnih društev medicinskih sester, babic in zdravstvenih tehnikov Slovenije
(Obvezni izvod spletne publikacije)

Introduction: Identifying the needs of family members is a family-oriented approach with an aim to help patients and their family members to actively participate in the recovery process. The aim of the study was to identify the needs of the family members of patients that had been hospitalized due to a traumatic brain injury. Methods: A qualitative approach with semi-structured interviews with hospitalized patients' family members was used. The interviews were conducted at the start of the treatment and before the patients were discharged from the hospital. Ten family members of patients who had suffered traumatic brain injury participated in our study. Data were analyzed by content analysis. Results: It has been found that family members of patients with traumatic brain injury have different needs that change during the hospitalization period. The need for information and the need for professional support were two major needs that the family members expressed. These two needs were constantly present and changed only slightly during hospitalization in terms of the factors that define them. At the beginning of hospitalization the need to confront the injury is also present and has several stages such as shock, denial, negotiation, anger, sadness and fear, was expressed. At the end of hospitalization, family members also expressed the need for (un)certainty and the need for progress. Discussion and conclusion: The most important needs of family members of patients who had suffered a traumatic brain injury have been identified. In order to provide the best possible satisfaction of the needs, health workers who come into contact with family members of patients with traumatic brain injury should be given a sense of empowerment especially in terms of early identification of the needs, communication and acceptance of family members as equal partners in patient health care.

12.06.2020