TY - JOUR
T1 - ‘Being a patient the rest of my life’– The influence of patient participation during recovery after brachial plexus injury
AU - Dy, Christopher J.
AU - Brogan, David M.
AU - Rolf, Liz
AU - James, Aimee
N1 - Funding Information:
This work was supported by grant K23AR073928 from the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (to author CJD).
Publisher Copyright:
© 2021
PY - 2023/1/1
Y1 - 2023/1/1
N2 - Background: Given the modest functional outcomes seen after surgical reconstruction and subsequent therapy, increasing attention is being directed to patient satisfaction and psychological aspects of recovery after brachial plexus injury (BPI). Purpose: To better understand the recovery course after surgical reconstruction for BPI, we used qualitative interviews and focused on common points of frustration for patients. Study Design: Qualitative, interpretive description study Methods: We conducted semi-structured interviews with BPI patients who were 6+ months post-surgical reconstruction. The interview focused on the patients’ experience with BPI, focusing on emotional aspects of recovery. Interviews were transcribed and independently coded by 2 researchers. We used inductive and deductive analysis to organize codes into themes. Once thematic saturation was reached, no additional interviews were conducted. Results: We interviewed 15 BPI patients at median 13 months after surgery (range: 6-43 months). Our analysis revealed: (1) BPI patients expressed variable degrees of participation during recovery, with the indeterminate state of function making it difficult to adjust to life after BPI. (2) The uncertainty while waiting for improved function is frustrating to BPI patients, with many patients expressing concern for activities and moments they are missing due to injury. (3) While many BPI patients feel left out of decision-making, those who felt engaged in the process expressed less frustration and more acceptance of their status. Conclusion: Traumatic BPI patients those who felt engaged in decision-making were more receptive to adjustment to their new state of function. When coordinating multidisciplinary care, measures to encourage patients to feel agency over their outcome and to develop self-management skills have the potential to improve patient satisfaction.
AB - Background: Given the modest functional outcomes seen after surgical reconstruction and subsequent therapy, increasing attention is being directed to patient satisfaction and psychological aspects of recovery after brachial plexus injury (BPI). Purpose: To better understand the recovery course after surgical reconstruction for BPI, we used qualitative interviews and focused on common points of frustration for patients. Study Design: Qualitative, interpretive description study Methods: We conducted semi-structured interviews with BPI patients who were 6+ months post-surgical reconstruction. The interview focused on the patients’ experience with BPI, focusing on emotional aspects of recovery. Interviews were transcribed and independently coded by 2 researchers. We used inductive and deductive analysis to organize codes into themes. Once thematic saturation was reached, no additional interviews were conducted. Results: We interviewed 15 BPI patients at median 13 months after surgery (range: 6-43 months). Our analysis revealed: (1) BPI patients expressed variable degrees of participation during recovery, with the indeterminate state of function making it difficult to adjust to life after BPI. (2) The uncertainty while waiting for improved function is frustrating to BPI patients, with many patients expressing concern for activities and moments they are missing due to injury. (3) While many BPI patients feel left out of decision-making, those who felt engaged in the process expressed less frustration and more acceptance of their status. Conclusion: Traumatic BPI patients those who felt engaged in decision-making were more receptive to adjustment to their new state of function. When coordinating multidisciplinary care, measures to encourage patients to feel agency over their outcome and to develop self-management skills have the potential to improve patient satisfaction.
KW - Brachial plexus
KW - Peripheral nerve
KW - Qualitative research
KW - Recovery
KW - Trauma
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85119604258&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.jht.2021.10.002
DO - 10.1016/j.jht.2021.10.002
M3 - Article
C2 - 34819254
AN - SCOPUS:85119604258
SN - 0894-1130
VL - 36
SP - 60
EP - 65
JO - Journal of Hand Therapy
JF - Journal of Hand Therapy
IS - 1
ER -