TY - JOUR
T1 - Ongoing Challenges Related to the COVID-19 Pandemic Among People With Brain Injury
AU - Kersey, Jessica
AU - R. McArthur, Amy
AU - Hammel, Joy
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2024.
PY - 2024/7
Y1 - 2024/7
N2 - The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated social isolation among people with traumatic brain injury (TBI). Yet, little is known about how changes in personal factors, environmental factors, or the characteristics of activities affected social participation. We examined experiences with social isolation and barriers to social participation using the person–environment–occupation–performance model as a framework. Twelve adults with TBI participated in a series of three focus groups. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis. We identified two primary themes with sub-themes: (1) social isolation experiences: (1a) emotional impact and (1b) managing personal risk; and (2) greater barriers but a lack of strategies to address them: (2a) access and opportunities and (2b) social and societal factors. New environmental barriers and task demands affected occupational performance, and participants identified few successful strategies to overcome these barriers. Occupational therapy can develop new strategies to re-balance the person–environment fit and enhance social participation.
AB - The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated social isolation among people with traumatic brain injury (TBI). Yet, little is known about how changes in personal factors, environmental factors, or the characteristics of activities affected social participation. We examined experiences with social isolation and barriers to social participation using the person–environment–occupation–performance model as a framework. Twelve adults with TBI participated in a series of three focus groups. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis. We identified two primary themes with sub-themes: (1) social isolation experiences: (1a) emotional impact and (1b) managing personal risk; and (2) greater barriers but a lack of strategies to address them: (2a) access and opportunities and (2b) social and societal factors. New environmental barriers and task demands affected occupational performance, and participants identified few successful strategies to overcome these barriers. Occupational therapy can develop new strategies to re-balance the person–environment fit and enhance social participation.
KW - environment
KW - qualitative research
KW - social participation
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85186606857&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1177/15394492241233260
DO - 10.1177/15394492241233260
M3 - Article
C2 - 38414253
AN - SCOPUS:85186606857
SN - 1539-4492
VL - 44
SP - 478
EP - 487
JO - OTJR Occupation, Participation and Health
JF - OTJR Occupation, Participation and Health
IS - 3
ER -