Parental concerns and distress after paediatric traumatic brain injury: a qualitative study.
OBJECTIVE
To determine concerns of parents associated with high distress levels in the care of children with traumatic brain injury (TBI).


METHODS
Primary care hospital/medical centre-based study on parental perspectives following TBI in school age children (n = 100; 19 orthopaedic trauma controls and 81 children with a history of TBI).


METHODS
Verbatim reports regarding major concerns on the Child Behaviour Checklist (CBCL), as well as parental ratings regarding their overall distress level when caring for the child.


RESULTS
Summary of verbatim comments indicated that parents who report high levels of distress in the care of their children were specifically concerned about the child's poor school performance, lack of friends, inability to control angry feelings and apathy. Fear of the future consequences of the TBI was also cited as a major concern. Parent ratings of distress level was significantly, but weakly correlated with the severity of TBI in their children (r = +0.26, n = 94, p = 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Reports of severe distress in the care of TBI children by parents are seen at all levels of severity of TBI. Addressing these parental concerns may increase parental engagement in the rehabilitation process.
Prigatano
George P
GP
Division of Neurology, Barrow Neurological Institute, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, Arizona 85013, USA. gprigat@chw.edu
Gray
Jennifer A
JA
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D015600:Glasgow Coma Scale; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000209:etiology*