Objective and subjective assessment of long-term community integration in minority groups following traumatic brain injury.
Previous studies that used objective measures of community integration found that in the first year after injury, minority groups with traumatic brain injury (TBI) exhibit lower levels of community integration than White participants. The objective of this study was to determine if this discrepancy persists beyond one year post injury, and if assessing subjective components of community integration helps understand these differences. Participants were 360 community dwelling adults with TBI including 29% from minority backgrounds. Mean time post injury was 8.66 years (SD = 9.94). Main outcome measure utilized was the Participation Objective Participation Subjective (POPS). Multiple regression indicated that minority status predicted levels of transportation use (p < 0.01), with white participants reporting less use, after controlling for demographic and injury variables. When looking at subjective indicators, minority status predicted levels of dissatisfaction with community, civic, life and leisure participation (p < 0.01), and total levels of participation (p < 0.0125), with White participants reporting significantly less dissatisfaction. Findings indicate that differences between minorities and white participants in objective aspects of community integration after one year post-injury are only evident in levels of transportation use. However, when looking at subjective indicators differences between groups are present in other areas. These findings underscore the importance of considering the consumer's subjective experience when providing services to minorities in a rehabilitation setting.
Mascialino
Guido
G
Mount Sinai School of Medicine, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, New York, NY, USA. Guido.Mascialino@mountsinai.org
Hirshson
Chari
C
Egan
Mathew
M
Cantor
Joshua
J
Ashman
Teresa
T
Tsaousides
Theodore
T
Spielman
Lisa
L
D000328:Adult; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008913:Minority Groups / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012917:Social Adjustment; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States