The caregiving experience of partners of adults with acquired brain injury

This dissertation examines the experience of caregiving of adults whose partners had experienced acquired brain injury. The research has the interrelated aims of (1) exploring the experience of caregiving by studying the experience of the partner caregiver of a person with acquired brain injury after the acute stage of injury (2) identification of resources and needs of the partner caregiver, and gaps in available services (3) identification of implications for policy and practice in the area of provision of services for this group of people. The study contributes primarily to the arena of public health. In recent years much of the research on the effects of acquired brain injury on the family of the survivor has had quantitative research methodology. This study differs from that previous research in its use of phenomenological methodology. Thirteen partners of adults with acquired brain injury were recruited through a brain injury unit of a major hospital, via a brain injury support group and via personal contact. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with each of these people. The interviews were broadly based on the literature and encompassed their experiences since they had become caregivers. Caregiving experience of the participants ranged from one to twenty five years. The data obtained from the interviews was examined for themes by reading the interview transcripts several times until an intuitive understanding of the phenomenon was achieved by the researcher. Main themes and less common themes were identified, together with the repetitive statements that defined them. The main themes which emerged from the interviews were those that supported the literature which describes the negative effects on the family of a brain injured person.