Group Differences Among Caregivers of Civilians and Service Members or Veterans With Traumatic Brain Injury

Abstract

Objective: To examine group differences among caregivers of service members/veterans (SMVs) and civilians with traumatic brain injury (TBI). Design: An observational research study examining the group differences between caregivers of SMVs and civilians with TBI. The data presented was collected as part of a larger study that calibrated and validated the TBI-CareQOL item banks. Setting: Participants in this multicenter study completed an online survey via a study-specific website. Surveys were completed at the study site, at home or via phone interview. Civilian caregivers were recruited from four rehabilitation hospitals and caregivers of SMVs were recruited through community outreach and collaboration with the Hearts of Valor.

Sleep impairment is related to health-related quality of life among caregivers of lower-functioning traumatic brain injury survivors.

“…Demographic, injury, and caregiving statistics are presented in Table 1. Due to substantial differences between caregivers of civilians and caregivers of SMVs on variables that could impact perceived sleep-related impairment and HRQOL, direct comparisons between these two samples were not made (Keatley et al, 2019). Instead, analyses were conducted in the combined sample and separately for the civilian and SMV groups.…”

“…The fact that caregiver perception of level of everyday function moderates social HRQOL for caregivers of SMVs and not caregivers of civilians warrants additional discussion. First, there are several differences between the two samples that may contribute to these discrepant findings between samples (Keatley et al, 2019). First, the SMV sample included mild TBI, whereas the civilian group did not, and there are several differences in demographic variables (highlighted in Table 1) that may contribute to differential findings.…”

Tackling emotional processing in adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder + autism spectrum disorder using emotional and action verbal fluency tasks

“…Disturbances in affective language have been found in several clinical populations, including individuals with right hemisphere brain damage ( 55 , 56 ), depressive disorder ( 57 ), schizophrenia ( 58 ), or ASD ( 59 ). Nevertheless, in clinical settings, the EWFT has only been used in studies with individuals with traumatic brain injury ( 60 ). Using the EWFT with healthy subjects, Abeare et al ( 61 ) found that trait anxiety was positively correlated with the number of emotions with negative valence produced.…”

Health literacy, health outcomes, and the caregiver role in traumatic brain injury.

“…More than half of unpaid family or informal caregivers are performing medical/nursing tasks without training, and these caregivers report high levels of physical strain and emotional stress (National Alliance for Caregiving & AARP Public Policy Institute, 2015). In particular, caregivers of people with traumatic brain injury (TBI) have many unmet needs related to caregiving and coping (Adams & Dahdah, 2016; Moore, Kiatchai, Ayyagari, & Vavilala, 2017) and are at risk for poor health-related quality life (HRQOL; Carlozzi et al, 2015, 2016, 2018; Chan, Parmenter, & Stancliffe, 2009; Chronister, Chan, Sasson-Gelman, & Chiu, 2010; Griffin et al, 2017; Keatley et al, 2018; Kratz, Carlozzi, Brickell, & Sander, 2014; Lester et al, 2010; Mansfield et al, 2010; Phelan et al, 2011; Ruff, Ruff, & Wang, 2009; Saban et al, 2016; Taft, Schumm, Panuzio, & Proctor, 2008; Verhaeghe, Defloor, & Grypdonck, 2005). HRQOL is a multidimensional concept that includes physical, mental and social well-being (Fayers & Machin, 2007).…”