The impact of community rehabilitation for acquired brain injury on carer burden: an exploratory study.
OBJECTIVE
This study evaluated the relative efficacy of a community rehabilitation service and a more traditional outpatient service for carers of people with an acquired brain injury.


METHODS
Seventeen carers who had received a community intervention were retrospectively compared with 24 carers who had received an outpatient service. Dependent variables were level of met family need, a measure of family dysfunction, carer psychopathology, and carer emotional acceptance.


RESULTS
The community sample fared significantly better on all measures except carer psychopathology.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that community-based services have efficacy for the carer and family. There is a clear need for large clinical trials using standardized instruments to establish what models of service delivery benefit carers.
Smith
Michael J
MJ
University of Wales, Bangor, UK. mike.smith@lthtr.nhs.uk
Vaughan
Frances L
FL
Cox
Linda J
LJ
McConville
Helen
H
Roberts
Mark
M
Stoddart
Sheila
S
Lew
Adina R
AR
D000328:Adult; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D003153:Community Health Services; D017281:Cost of Illness; D005195:Family Relations; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020380:Needs Assessment; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D012189:Retrospective Studies