Project Type
modular
Project Lead Center
Virginia Traumatic Brain Injury Model System
Project Start Date
09/30/2017
Project End Date
10/01/2022
Participating Centers
Indiana Traumatic Brain Injury Model System
UAB Traumatic Brain Injury Model System
Northern New Jersey Traumatic Brain Injury System
Mayo Clinic Traumatic Brain Injury Model System

The multi-center study aims to address the following questions. What is the trajectory of caregiver resilience over the first two years postinjury? Does resilience change over time for some caregivers? If yes, what patient (functional status, resilience, emotional distress) and caregiver (perceived burden, needs, time spent caring for the patient) factors are related to decline or improvement? What is the relationship between caregivers’ resilience and their emotional well-being? Newly enrolled participants in the TBI Model Systems National Database are contacted at five months postinjury and asked to identify a caregiver. Caregivers are then contacted to determine their interest in participating in the study. Caregivers are contacted at 6, 12 and 24 months after the injury to complete questionnaires about themselves. Questions focus on mood, burden, needs, and resilience. Caregivers must be at least 18 years of age or older and able to understand and provide consent.