Unmet service needs of persons with traumatic brain injury.
OBJECTIVE
Assess unmet needs of persons with traumatic brain injury (TBI) 1 year after hospital discharge; compare perceived need with needs based on deficits (unrecognized need); determine major barriers to services; evaluate association of needs with satisfaction with life.


METHODS
Representative sample of 1830 community-dwelling persons with TBI aged 15 years and older.


METHODS
Perceived and unrecognized unmet needs, barriers to receiving services, and satisfaction with life as a function of met service needs.


RESULTS
35.2% of participants reported at least 1 unmet need, 51.5% had unrecognized needs, 47% reported at least 1 barrier to receiving help. Receipt of services significantly increased satisfaction with life.


CONCLUSIONS
Many persons experiencing TBI report having unmet service needs 1 year after hospital discharge.
Pickelsimer
E Elisabeth
EE
Department of Biostatistics, Bioinformatics, and Epidemiology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA. pickelse@musc.edu
Selassie
Anbesaw W
AW
Sample
Pat L
PL
W Heinemann
Allen
A
Gu
Ja K
JK
Veldheer
Linda C
LC
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D012042:Registries; D013022:South Carolina; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000209:etiology