Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://ahro.austin.org.au/austinjspui/handle/1/20328
Title: Traumatic injury survivors' perceptions of their future: a longitudinal qualitative study.
Austin Authors: Braaf, Sandy;Ameratunga, Shanthi;Ponsford, Jennie;Cameron, Peter;Collie, Alex;Harrison, James;Ekegren, Christina;Christie, Nicola;Nunn, Andrew;Gabbe, Belinda
Affiliation: School of Population Health, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
Victorian Spinal Cord Service, Austin Health, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia
Research Centre for Injury Studies, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
Insurance Work and Health Group, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Monash-Epworth Rehabilitation Research Centre, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Department of Civil, Environmental and Geomatic Engineering, University College of London, London, UK
School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Issue Date: 2020
Date: 2019-02-10
Publication information: Disability and Rehabilitation 2020; 42(19): 2707-2717
Abstract: Persistent disability following traumatic injuries can disrupt future plans and create uncertainty about how to mitigate future impacts. It is unknown how or whether perceptions of the future change in the years after injury. Therefore, the aim of this study was to explore trauma survivors' perceptions of their future over time. A longitudinal qualitative study, nested within a population-based longitudinal cohort study, was undertaken in Victoria, Australia with survivors of serious injury. Sixty-six seriously injured adults (≥16 years) without severe neurotrauma were interviewed at 3 years post-injury (n = 66), and re-interviewed at 4 (n = 63) and 5 years (n = 57) post-injury. A longitudinal thematic analysis was performed. Many traumatically injured people had persistent physical and mental impacts. Participants reported being anxious about pain, mobility, work, housing and accommodation, social activities, and finances in their future. Others were hopeful and optimistic regarding their future and developed coping strategies and adopted new viewpoints. Over time, most seriously injured people's perceptions of the future remained consistent. Some had enduring anxiety and others sustained hopeful approaches. Personalised and targeted interventions that address specific concerns could reduce anxiety and support positive adjustment following traumatic injury. Implications for rehabilitation Many seriously injured people, particularly people who sustained orthopaedic injuries, held concerns about experiencing persistent pain, physical impairment, and reduced mobility in the future. Personalised and targeted interventions that address specific concerns about future financial, social, housing and employment issues could reduce anxiety and support coping and adjustment strategies. In addition to their direct impacts on post-injury recovery, health, rehabilitation, occupational, social, and insurance systems all have a role in facilitating positive responses of injury survivors that draw on their strengths and sources of resilience.
URI: https://ahro.austin.org.au/austinjspui/handle/1/20328
DOI: 10.1080/09638288.2019.1571116
ORCID: 0000-0003-0430-125X
0000-0001-7152-5240
Journal: Disability and rehabilitation
PubMed URL: 30739506
Type: Journal Article
Subjects: Trauma
ageing
disability
future expectations
injury
interviews
qualitative
Appears in Collections:Journal articles

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