Regresso ao trabalho da pessoa que sofreu traumatismo crânio-encefálico

: várias perspectivas para uma mesma realidade

Abstract

The traumatic brain injuries are a major public health problem, especially in the young adult population. This is cause for concern because one of the main consequences after injury is the difficulty in entering / re-entering the job market, especially due to behavioral and cognitive problems. Because employment is considered as one of the most important areas of interest to people in adulthood, the objective of this work is to identify difficulties that are being further impediment to the return to work, both from the point of view of the person who suffered the injury, like a close member of the family, and compare these perspectives with the results of neuropsychological assessment. To this purpose, we conducted a qualitative study with five people who have suffered TBI and their respective families. In addition to the neuropsychological assessment, a semistructured interview was conducted, separately for both respondents, and a questionnaire (EBIQ-European Brain Injury Questionnnaire, Portuguese version, Santos et al., 2001), designed to assess the subjective experience of life. Each case was analyzed individually, and all of them showed a discrepancy between the opinion given by the injured individual and their family. In general, individuals who have suffered TBI showed a high lack of insight about their difficulties, especially behavioral, which are highlighted by relatives as the ones that have the greatest impact for their return to work. Neuropsychological assessment showed more cognitive difficulties than those that were reported by the assessed, but also by their relatives. Thus, the disagreement of opinions and especially the lack of knowledge for the actual situation, in relation to the family, can greatly contribute to no-returning to work and failed attempts at re-entry due to unrealistic expectations. Thus, no-returning to a productive activity, even below the pre-morbid level, is the result of multiple factors, in addition to the disabilities, such as lack of information and lack of family support provided to both the individual who suffered TBI, and his family by the rehabilitation teams.

Date of Award	2013
Original language	Portuguese
Awarding Institution	Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Supervisor	Maria Emília Pinto dos Santos (Supervisor)