Patient perspectives on quality and access to healthcare after brain injury

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Study explored brain injury (BI) survivors’ experiences in accessing and utilizing health care. Forty-four community-dwelling adults with BI participated in focus groups conducted at clinical research centers in Seattle, Washington and New York, New York. Participants were asked open-ended questions about their experiences with health care in the community with regard to care needs, utilization, access, barriers, and facilitators to health management. Central themes emerged across three categories: (1) barriers to healthcare access/utilization, (2) facilitators to healthcare access/utilization, and (3) suggestions for improving healthcare after BI. The importance of communication as both a facilitator and barrier to care was mentioned by most participants. Compensatory strategies and external tools were identified as key facilitators of medical self-management. Finally, improving clinicians’ knowledge about BI emerged as a potential solution to address health needs of individuals with chronic BI. Additional efforts need to be made to improve access to appropriate health care and increase the ability for individuals to successfully navigate the healthcare system. Findings suggest several specific, low-cost modifications to healthcare delivery and strategies for improving medical self-management that can maximize long-term health maintenance for BI survivors.

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