Recovery from traumatic injury: Trauma patients’ perceptions of facilitators and barriers

Abstract

BackgroundIndividuals who have sustained an unintentional physical traumatic injury often undergo a lengthy and arduous process of recovery, as they strive to return to pre-injury levels of physical, occupational and social function. However, little research has been conducted on interventions to support trauma patients during recovery, and the few interventions implemented have limited success. ObjectivesThis qualitative descriptive study was designed to explore the facilitators and barriers to the recovery process to inform nursing interventions and research. MethodsA sample of 13 individuals in the southeast United States, who sustained an unintentional traumatic injury requiring hospitalization in the previous 6months, completed an in-person semi-structured interview. Data were analyzed using line by line coding, identification of patterns and themes, and constant comparison of themes to the data. ResultsFour major themes that facilitated recovery from injury were identified: support, coping, processing, and progress. Major barriers to recovery included financial losses, physical changes, lack of information, and emotional consequences. DiscussionTrauma patients need informational and support resources, especially peer support from those with a similar injury, to provide indicators of progress and promote successful integration of the injury event and its consequences into their views of self.