Health and Well-Being of Persons of Working Age up to Seven Years after Severe Traumatic Brain Injury in Northern Sweden: A Mixed Method Study

Abstract

Purpose: To explore the health and well-being of persons seven years after severe traumatic brain injury (STBI). Material and methods: Follow-up of 21 persons 1 and 7 years after STBI using surveys for functional outcome, anxiety/depression, health and mental fatigue. Interviews were conducted and analysed using qualitative content analysis. Convergent parallel mixed method then merged and analysed the results into an overall interpretation. Results: Good recovery, high functional outcome and overall good health were relatively unchanged between 1 and 7 years. Well-being was a result of adaptation to a recovered or changed life situation. Persons with good recovery had moved on in life. Persons with moderate disability self-estimated their health as good recovery but reported poorer well-being. For persons with severe disability, adaptation was an ongoing process and health and well-being were low. Only a few persons reported anxiety and depression. They had poorer health but nevertheless reported well-being. Persons with moderate and severe mental fatigue had low functional outcomes and overall health and none of them reported well-being. Conclusions: The life of a person who has suffered STBI is still affected to a lesser or greater degree several years after injury due to acceptance of a recovered or changed life situation. Further studies are needed on how health and well-being can be improved after STBI in the long-term perspective.

Prognostication in Prolonged and Chronic Disorders of Consciousness

“…155 Finally, satisfaction and QoL for survivors of severe TBI in their chronic phase may correlate with their ability to have accepted their new level of ability and changed life role. 161 In that study, dissatisfaction was found with increasing loneliness, which correlated with more severe injuries. 161 Satisfaction, well-being, and QoL measures in patients particularly post severe TBI have many dimensions that influence a patient's lived experience after acute brain injury.…”

“…161 In that study, dissatisfaction was found with increasing loneliness, which correlated with more severe injuries. 161 Satisfaction, well-being, and QoL measures in patients particularly post severe TBI have many dimensions that influence a patient's lived experience after acute brain injury.…”