Illness Representations of Injury: A Comparison of Patients and Their Caregivers

Abstract

Purpose: This study examined the differences between illness representations of injured patients and those of their caregivers.

Design: A comparative descriptive survey was used.

Methods: The study setting was the surgical wards of a teaching hospital in Taiwan. Data were collected at 3 to 6 months after hospital discharge. Participants were 127 pairs of injured patients and their caregivers. The participants completed sociodemographic data and completed the Chinese Illness Perception Questionnaire Revised-Trauma, which is composed of eight subscales. Clinical data of the injured patients was obtained from medical records.

Results: Injured patients and their caregivers were pessimistic about the injury. Patients perceived significantly more physical symptoms than caregivers did. Caregivers for patients who were severely injured or admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU) had more negative perceptions than did those who were providing care for moderately injured patients or those not admitted to an ICU. Caregivers who did not share their caring responsibilities had more negative perceptions than did those who shared their caring responsibilities with others.

Conclusions: This study found that patients and caregivers had negative illness representations several months after injury. Caregivers who provided care for severely injured patients or who did not share caring responsibilities perceived different extents of illness perceptions about the injury. The interventions should highlight the need to assist patients and caregivers after injury.

Clinical relevance: Exploring the discrepancies in illness perceptions between injured patients and their caregivers can help clinicians to provide individualized care, and to design interventions that meet patients' and caregivers' needs.

Keywords: Caregivers; comparative survey; illness representations; injury.