scholarly journals Burden and Preparedness amongst Informal Caregivers of Adults with Moderate to Severe Traumatic Brain Injury

Author(s):  
Kirsten Lieshout ◽  
Joanne Oates ◽  
Anne Baker ◽  
Carolyn A. Unsworth ◽  
Ian D. Cameron ◽  
...  

This study examined the patterns of informal (unpaid) caregiving provided to people after moderate to severe traumatic brain injury (TBI), explore the self-reported burden and preparedness for the caregiving role, and identify factors predictive of caregiver burden and preparedness. A cross-sectional cohort design was used. Informal caregivers completed the Demand and Difficulty subscales of the Caregiving Burden Scale; and the Mutuality, Preparedness, and Global Strain subscales of the Family Care Inventory. Chi-square tests and logistic regression were used to examine the relationships between caregiver and care recipient variables and preparedness for caregiving. Twenty-nine informal caregivers who reported data on themselves and people with a moderate to severe TBI were recruited (referred to as a dyad). Most caregivers were female (n = 21, 72%), lived with the care recipient (n = 20, 69%), and reported high levels of burden on both scales. While most caregivers (n = 21, 72%) felt “pretty well” or “very well” prepared for caregiving, they were least prepared to get help or information from the health system, and to deal with the stress of caregiving. No significant relationships or predictors for caregiver burden or preparedness were identified. While caregivers reported the provision of care as both highly difficult and demanding, further research is required to better understand the reasons for the variability in caregiver experience, and ultimately how to best prepare caregivers for this long-term role.

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 945-945
Author(s):  
Steven Cohen ◽  
Zachary Kunicki ◽  
Megan Drohan ◽  
Mary Greaney

Abstract Individuals providing unpaid care of assistance to family members and friends (e.g. informal caregivers), may have been uniquely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Research is needed to examine the pandemic’s effect on informal caregivers’ caregiving intensity and burden. Therefore, this cross-sectional study was conducted to explore self-reported changes in caregiver intensity (CI) and caregiver burden (CB) due to the pandemic to identify factors associated with changes in responsibilities and burdens. In June 2020, informal caregivers providing care to someone aged 50+ (n=835) reported their current and pre-pandemic caregiving intensity and burden. Data were collected via Amazon’s Mechanical Turk. Chi-square tests were used to examine bivariate associations between pandemic time (pre vs. post) differences in CI and CB. Multinomial regression was used to assess multivariate predictors of changes to CI and CB due to COVID-19. Results showed a significant U-shaped association between initial CB and CB change due to COVID-19. Higher levels of initial CB were associated with both a significant decrease in CB during COVID-19 (OR 1.33, 95%CI 1.06-1.67), and a significant increase in CB during COVID-19 (OR 1.22, 95%CI 1.05-1.43). There were no significant associations between initial CB and changes in CI due to COVID-19, although older caregivers were more likely to experience a decrease in CB due to caregiving (OR 1.02, 95%CI 1.00-1.05). These mixed results suggest that caregivers with high initial CB experienced the most extreme changes to CB due to COVID-19. Future planned analyses will focus on understanding the potential drivers behind these unexpected results.


2021 ◽  
Vol 53 (1) ◽  
pp. 31
Author(s):  
Selvaraj Samuelkamaleshkumar ◽  
CatherineJudithHossanna ◽  
Ranjan Aruna ◽  
Suresh Annpatriciacatherine ◽  
Stephen Reethajanetsurekha ◽  
...  

2008 ◽  
Vol 39 (8) ◽  
pp. 1379-1387 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. T. Fear ◽  
E. Jones ◽  
M. Groom ◽  
N. Greenberg ◽  
L. Hull ◽  
...  

BackgroundMild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) is being claimed as the ‘signature’ injury of the Iraq war, and is believed to be the cause of long-term symptomatic ill health (post-concussional syndrome; PCS) in an unknown proportion of military personnel.MethodWe analysed cross-sectional data from a large, randomly selected cohort of UK military personnel deployed to Iraq (n=5869). Two markers of PCS were generated: ‘PCS symptoms’ (indicating the presence of mTBI-related symptoms: none, 1–2, 3+) and ‘PCS symptom severity’ (indicating the presence of mTBI-related symptoms at either a moderate or severe level of severity: none, 1–2, 3+).ResultsPCS symptoms and PCS symptom severity were associated with self-reported exposure to blast whilst in a combat zone. However, the same symptoms were also associated with other in-theatre exposures such as potential exposure to depleted uranium and aiding the wounded. Strong associations were apparent between having PCS symptoms and other health outcomes, in particular being a post-traumatic stress disorder or General Health Questionnaire case.ConclusionsPCS symptoms are common and some are related to exposures such as blast injury. However, this association is not specific, and the same symptom complex is also related to numerous other risk factors and exposures. Post-deployment screening for PCS and/or mTBI in the absence of contemporaneous recording of exposure is likely to be fraught with hazards.


2011 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 165-178 ◽  
Author(s):  
Skye McDonald ◽  
Julia Rosenfeld ◽  
Julie D. Henry ◽  
Leanne Togher ◽  
Robyn Tate ◽  
...  

AbstractPrimary objective:Recent research studies attest to the presence of deficits in emotion perception following severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). Additionally, a growing number of studies report significant levels of alexithymia (disorder of emotional cognition) following TBI. This research aimed to examine the relation between the two, while assessing the influence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).Design:Cross-sectional study examining levels of alexithymia, emotion perception disorders and PTSD and their association, in 20 people with severe, chronic TBI and 20 adults without brain injuries.Methods:Participants were assessed on the Toronto Alexithymia — 20 Scale, the Posttraumatic Diagnostic Scale and on two emotion perception tasks: matching and labelling of photos depicting the 6 basic emotions.Results:The group with TBI were impaired relative to controls when matching facial expressions. Their performance on ‘fear’ was especially poor. Performance on labelling was similar in pattern, although failed to reach significance. There was no association between poor performance on fear, or other negative expressions, and either PTSD or alexithymia symptoms in the TBI group.Conclusions:Alexithymia, as assessed by the TAS-20, taps a constellation of difficulties that do not appear to include difficulties with emotion perception in people with traumatic brain injuries.


2016 ◽  
Vol 31 (5) ◽  
pp. E59-E67 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eléonore Bayen ◽  
Claire Jourdan ◽  
Idir Ghout ◽  
Emmanuelle Darnoux ◽  
Sylvie Azerad ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuli Fang ◽  
Yuanyuan Ma ◽  
Haiyan He ◽  
Ting Chen ◽  
Jingci Zhu

Abstract Background The application of preventive strategies for feeding intolerance in severe traumatic brain injury (STBI) patients is discrepant among different hospitals. We aim to investigate the application status of preventive measures of feeding intolerance in China. Method A cross-sectional study was carried out among 996 clinicians and nurses working in intensive care units of 89 hospitals in China (response rate of 89.81%). Data were collected by means of an online survey. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze respondents’ characteristics and questionnaire responses. Results Clinicians and nurses usually applied several methods simultaneously to assess gastrointestinal functions and risk of feeding intolerance among STBI patients, including assessment scales, gastrointestinal symptoms, etc. Furthermore, initiating enteral nutrition (EN) within 24-48 hours (61.45%), < 500 ml initial volume of EN solution (50.00%), using non-nutritional preparations as initial EN formula (65.56%), nasogastric tube EN (91.16%), continuous feeding by pump (72.89%), 30°-45° of head-of-bed elevation during EN (89.46%), monitoring gastric residual volume by syringe (93.67%), assessing gastric residual volume every 4 hours (51.51%), EN solution temperature of 38℃-40℃ (65.46%), prokinetic agents (73.29%), enema (73.59%), probiotics (79.01%), and antacid agents (84.13%), were mostly applied strategies in clinical practice for preventing feeding intolerance among STBI patients. Conclusions The data from the survey showed that medical staffs in China are closely concerned with the gastrointestinal functions of STBI patients and EN delivery protocol, and have a positive attitude towards preventive strategies for feeding intolerance. Meanwhile, there are still many points need to be paid attention to and solved, and researchers, clinicians, nurses and dietitians should strengthen the cooperation to explore more valuable preventive strategies for feeding intolerance in STBI patients.


2014 ◽  
Vol 43 (2) ◽  
pp. 100-102
Author(s):  
Sukriti Das ◽  
Md Jahangir Alam ◽  
KM Tarikul Islam ◽  
Fazle Elahi ◽  
Ehsan Mahmud

Severe traumatic brain injury is common in all developing countries like Bangladesh. These patients are commonly managed conservatively in the most of the hospitals of our country where immediate surgical intervention and perioperative ICU facilities are not available.This cross sectional interventional study was aimed at evaluating and comparing the post operative surgical outcome of decompressive craniectomy in patients with severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) with conservatively treated patients.This study was done in Dhaka Medical College Hospital from January 2010 to December 2012. Twenty clinically suspected patients who sustained severe head injury with a GCS of 3-8 with neurological deterioration and evidence of brain contusion, laceration or evidence of brain swelling on CT Scan were included. Patient with primary fatal brain stem injury, an initial and persisting GCS score of 3, or bilaterally dilated and fixed pupil are not candidate for operative management. Outcome was assessed by Glasgow outcome scale (GOS). Follow up was given for a period of six to twelve months. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bmj.v43i2.21392 Bangladesh Med J. 2014 May; 43 (2): 100-102


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