Community participation and quality of life outcomes after adult traumatic brain injury.
OBJECTIVE
This study examined outcomes after traumatic brain injury in adults salient to occupational therapy.


METHODS
Demographic data and Functional Independence Measure (FIM) scores from the inpatient rehabilitation stay were first gathered from a retrospective chart review. At follow-up, 25 adults, on average 21 months post-injury, completed measures of disability, community participation, quality of life, and satisfaction with occupational therapy during a telephone interview. Analysis of covariance was used to test the differences between pretest and posttest scores on the FIM; regression analysis and correlations were used to analyze predictions and relationships.


RESULTS
Statistically significant improvements in FIM scores during rehabilitation were predictive of the level of long-term disability and community participation among participants. At follow-up, participants were often unemployed, depressed and withdrawn, and experienced limitations in decision making, hand use, bladder control, and community integration. Less disability and more community participation were related to higher quality of life. Satisfaction with occupational therapy, although high, was unrelated to most outcomes.


CONCLUSIONS
Results support the premise that participation is associated with a high quality of life, yet persons with brain injury have significant needs for long-term occupational therapy.
Huebner
Ruth A
RA
Department of Occupational Therapy, Eastern Kentucky University, Richmond, Kentucky, USA.
Johnson
Kerrie
K
Bennett
Chantel Miller
CM
Schneck
Colleen
C
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003256:Community Participation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007629:Kentucky; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009788:Occupational Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011788:Quality of Life; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile; D016896:Treatment Outcome