Disability Burden in Traumatic Brain Injury in Gaza Strip

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to determine the burden of disability of traumatic brain injury (TBI) individuals on caregivers after discharge from rehabilitation hospital from the caregivers' perspectives in the Gaza Strip. RESEARCH DESIGN: The researcher used an analytic descriptive structure in order to perform the study. METHODS: The study sample comprised all TBI individuals who were hospitalizedbetween January 2000 and January 2007 in El Wafa Medical Rehabilitation Hospital and Specialized Surgery. Convenience sampling strategy was used. SETTING: The study was conducted in the Gaza Strip: Northern of Gaza, Gaza City, Middle Zone, Khanyounis and Rafah. PARTICIPANTS: Respondents included One hundred of TBI caregivers who had at least 6 months experience as TBI caregivers. Respondents ranged in age from 18 to 49 years whom had been visited at their homes. OUTCOMES MEASURES: Functional Independence Measurement (FIM), Disability Rating Scale (DRS) and Community Integration Questionnaire (CIQ). RESULTS: The average score of TBI caregivers in the CIQ was found to be 15.3/ 29 (52.8%). The average score of the FIM for TBI individuals was calculated at 80.7/126 (64%). Psychosocial adaptability in terms of employability established the most important item in DRS for participants TBI individuals 2.1/29 (7.2%) while dependency on other (level of functioning = 1.7/29 (5.9%)) came in the second place. Cognitive and awareness abilities were in the third and fourth place according to DRS (5.5%, 3.4%). CONCLUSIONS: Participants in the study reported high level of disability burden after they provided care to TBI individuals and lower of community integration in the society (52.8%) due to caring TBI individuals.