Background

Injury can have physical, psychological and social consequences. It is unclear which factors have an impact on patients’ wellbeing after injury. This study aimed to explore, using focus groups, patients’ experiences and wellbeing after injury and which factors, impede or facilitate patients’ wellbeing.

Methods

Trauma patients, treated in the shock room of the Elisabeth-TweeSteden Hospital, the Netherlands, participated in focus groups. Purposive sampling was used. Exclusion criteria were younger than 18 years old, severe traumatic brain injury, dementia, and insufficient knowledge of the Dutch language. The interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using coding technique open, axial, and selective coding, based on phenomenological approach.

Results

Six focus groups (3 to 7 participants) were held before data saturation was reached. In total, 134 patients were invited, 28 (21%) agreed to participate (Median age: 59.5; min. 18 –max. 84). Main reasons to decline were fear that the discussion would be too confronting or patients experienced no problems regarding the trauma or treatment. Participants experienced difficulties on physical (no recovery to pre-trauma level), psychological (fear of dying or for permanent limitations, symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder, cognitive dysfunction), social (impact on relatives and social support) wellbeing. These are impeding factors for recovery. However, good communication, especially clarity about the injury and expectations concerning recovery and future perspectives could help patients in surrendering to care. Patients felt less helpless when they knew what to expect.

Conclusions

This is the first study that explored patients’ experiences and wellbeing after injury. Patients reported that their injury had an impact on their physical, psychological, and social wellbeing up to 12 months after injury. Professionals with the knowledge of consequences after injury could improve their anticipation on patients’ need.

中文翻译：

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病人受伤后的经历和健康：焦点小组研究

背景

伤害可能会导致身体，心理和社会后果。尚不清楚哪些因素会影响患者受伤后的健康。这项研究旨在使用焦点小组来探讨患者受伤后的经历和福祉，以及哪些因素阻碍或促进了患者的福祉。

方法

在荷兰伊丽莎白-特威斯泰登医院休克室接受治疗的创伤患者参加了焦点小组。使用目的抽样。排除标准为未满18岁，严重的颅脑外伤，痴呆以及对荷兰语的了解不足。采访记录，逐字记录，并使用基于现象学方法的开放，轴向和选择性编码技术进行分析。

结果

在达到数据饱和之前，举行了六个焦点小组会议（3至7名参与者）。总共邀请了134位患者，其中28位（21％）同意参加（中位年龄：59.5；最低年龄18 –最高年龄84）。拒绝的主要原因是担心讨论太过激烈或患者在创伤或治疗方面没有问题。参与者在身体（无法恢复到创伤前的水平），心理（对垂死或永久的限制的恐惧，创伤后应激障碍的症状，认知功能障碍），社交（对亲戚和社会支持的影响）的健康方面遇到困难。这些是恢复的阻碍因素。但是，良好的沟通，尤其是对于伤害的清晰程度以及对康复的期望以及对未来的看法，可以帮助患者投降。

结论

这是第一项探讨患者受伤后的经历和幸福感的研究。患者报告说，受伤后长达12个月的时间，他们的身体，心理和社会健康状况都会受到影响。知道受伤后后果的专业人员可以提高他们对患者需求的期望。