פגיעת ראש בעקבות תאונת דרכים: חוויית הפגיעה, הליך השיקום והשתלבות בקהילה

Background: Traumatic brain injury (TBI), resulting from a car accident, may have a negative effect on the physical and mental functioning of the victims and make it difficult for them to integrate into the community. Aims: To examine significant experiences of people with TBI as a result of a car accident with regard to their rehabilitation process and the needs and challenges they face. Method: The research is based on a qualitative method and structural approach. Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with 15 individuals , 8 men and 7 women, with TBI resulting from a car accident, who have undergone or are undergoing rehabilitation in the community. The data were analyzed in stages by thematic content analysis. Findings: Three themes were identified: the experience of the injury, the rehabilitation process, and coping with integration into the community. The participants described dealing with physical, mental, and functional difficulties. They revealed three support factors during the process of rehabilitation and integration into the community: meaningful relationships, emotional care, and religious faith. They favorably noted the treatments in rehabilitation hospitals compared to those provided in community settings. They described an overprotective environment and coping with stigma as challenging their integration into the community. Conclusions and Implications for Practice: The findings indicate the need to adopt a social model that helps the head injured deal with the barriers that create difficulties for them. We recommend the development of rehabilitation programs that address the challenges they must face regarding their self-identity and provide them with tools to grow from the trauma they experienced.