Abstract
Objective
To examine group differences among caregivers of service members or veterans (SMVs)
and civilians with traumatic brain injury (TBI).
Design
An observational research study examining the group differences between caregivers
of SMVs and civilians with TBI. The data presented was collected as part of a larger
study that calibrated and validated the Traumatic Brain Injury-Care Quality of Life
(TBI-CareQOL) item banks.
Setting
Participants in this multicenter study completed an online survey via a study-specific
website. Surveys were completed at the study site, at home, or via phone interview.
Civilian caregivers were recruited from 4 rehabilitation hospitals and caregivers
of SMVs were recruited through community outreach and collaboration with the Hearts
of Valor.
Participants
Participants (N=473) consisted of 344 caregivers of civilians with TBI and 129 caregivers
of SMVs with TBI.
Interventions
Not applicable.
Main Outcome Measures
Zarit Burden Interview Scale, TBI-CareQOL, and Mayo Portland Adaptability Inventory,
4th revision (MPAI-4).
Results
Of the independent variables included in the logistic regression model that classified
military-affiliated vs civilian caregivers, 5 were statistically significant: age,
spousal status, time since injury, MPAI-4 Adjustment, and TBI-CareQOL Feeling Trapped.
Conclusions
The results indicate that caregivers of SMVs were more likely to report worse emotional
and social adjustment among the individuals with TBI and caregivers of SMVs were more
likely to report greater levels of feeling trapped by their caregiving duties.
Keywords
List of abbreviations:
MPAI-4 (Mayo Portland Adaptability Inventory, 4th revision), PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder), SMV (service member or veteran), TBI (traumatic brain injury), TBI-CareQOL (Traumatic Brain Injury-Care Quality of Life), VA (Veterans Affairs)To read this article in full you will need to make a payment
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: December 08, 2018
Footnotes
Supported by the National Institutes of Health (grant no. R01NR013658), the National Institute of Nursing Research, and the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (grant no. UL1TR000433).
Identification
Copyright
© 2018 by the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine
