The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #54119

Claire CD Dumont, MSc, Public Health Department, Laval University, Cité Universitaire, Québec, QC G1K 7P4, Canada, (418)529-9141 # 6044, claire.dumont@irdpq.qc.ca, Marie MG Gervais, PhD, Occupational Therapy, Laval University AND Centre de recherche en réadaptation et intégration sociale (CIRRIS), Cité Universitaire, Québec, QC G1K 7P4, Canada, Patrick PF Fougeyrollas, PhD, Centre de recherche en réadaptation et intégration sociale (CIRRIS), Institut de réadaptation en déficience physique de Québec, 525 Boul. Hamel, Québec, QC G1M 2S8, Canada, and Richard RB Bertrand, PhD, Education Department, Laval University, Cité Universitaire, Québec, QC G1K 7P4, Canada.

Traumatic brain injury is a major public health problem. People in the health field and in the community must know the best ways to improve social participation of people living with the sequelae of a traumatic brain injury. Previous studies identify factors mainly related to impairments, to the traumatism and to personal characteristics such as age, education, and gender. This study's goal was to explore the personal and environmental resiliency factors that could improve the social participation of this population. Three personal resiliency factors were investigated: sense of coherence, perceived self efficacy and positive mental state (self esteem, emotional stability, relationships…). Environmental resiliency factors investigated were: family cohesion and adaptability, health and rehabilitation services, and characteristics of the work place. Fifty-three adults who suffered a traumatic brain injury from 1995 to 2000 and received rehabilitation services were individually met for an interview including filling questionnaires and answering open ended questions. Quantitative and qualitative data were gathered and analysed. The results indicate that perceived self efficacy explains an important part of social participation. Fatigue is one of the sequelae that most challenges the perceived self efficacy. The most efficient strategies to improve social participation related by the study participants are reported. Conclusions include recommendations for clinical intervention, service organisation and public health.

Learning Objectives:

• At the end of this session, participants will be able to:
• - recognise the magnitude of the problem and how traumatic brain injury sequelae influence social participation;
• - identify resiliency factors in relation to social participation;
• - articulate how to manage interventions in the clinical, public health and service organisation fields to improve social participation of people with traumatic brain injury.

Keywords: Disability, Behavior Modification

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.