title: Traumatic brain injury caregivers: A qualitative analysis of spouse and parent perspectives on quality of life.
abstract: The objective of this qualitative study was to examine how family caregivers of individuals with traumatic brain injury (TBI) describe their quality of life in the context of their caregiving role. Fifty-two caregivers of adults with moderate or severe TBI (n = 31 parents, n = 21 partners/spouses; 77% female; mean age = 57.96 years, range = 34-78 years) were recruited from three data collection sites to participate in focus groups. Thematic content analysis was used to identify two main meta-themes: Caregiver Role Demands and Changes in Person with TBI. Prominent sub-themes indicated that caregivers are (1) overburdened with responsibilities, (2) lack personal time and time for self-care, (3) feel that their life is interrupted or lost, (4) grieve the loss of the person with TBI, and (5) endorse anger, guilt, anxiety, and sadness. Caregivers identified a number of service needs. A number of sub-themes were perceived differently by partner versus parent caregivers. The day-to-day responsibilities of being a caregiver as well as the changes in the person with the TBI present a variety of challenges and sources of distress for caregivers. Although services that address instrumental as well as emotional needs of caregivers may benefit caregivers in general, the service needs of parent and partner caregivers may differ.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation , University of Michigan , Ann Arbor , MI , USA.
authors.forename: Anna L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Kratz
authors.affiliation: b Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation , Baylor College of Medicine , Houston , TX , USA.|c TIRR Memorial Hermann's Brain Injury Research Center , Houston , TX , USA.|d Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation , Harris Health System , Houston , TX , USA.
authors.forename: Angelle M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Sander
authors.affiliation: e Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center , Walter Reed National Military Medical Center , Bethesda , MD , USA.|f Department of Psychiatry , Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences , Bethesda , MD , USA.
authors.forename: Tracey A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Brickell
authors.affiliation: e Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center , Walter Reed National Military Medical Center , Bethesda , MD , USA.|g Department of Psychiatry , University of British Columbia , Vancouver , Canada.
authors.forename: Rael T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Lange
authors.affiliation: a Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation , University of Michigan , Ann Arbor , MI , USA.
authors.forename: Noelle E
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Carlozzi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000786:Anger; D001007:Anxiety; D000070642:Brain Injuries, Traumatic / Q000451:nursing*; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006167:Guilt; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020380:Needs Assessment; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D018454:Spouses / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: Caregiver; Quality of life; Traumatic brain injury