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Developing strategies to better meet the needs of partners of people with brain injury

Year:
2011
Duration:
53 months
Approved budget:
$108,027.00
Researchers:
Ms Elisa Lavelle Wijohn
Health issue:
Neurological (CNS)
Proposal type:
PhD Disability Research Placement Scholarship
Lay summary
Family caregivers of those who sustain an acquired brain injury (ABI) report increased stress and reduced quality of life. Partners in particular, report ongoing grief regarding the changes in their partner and the altered balance to the dynamic of their couple relationship. Yet, there is currently minimal assistance to support the psychological wellbeing of partners who are impacted by ABI. This project will use Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) to a) identify the needs of partners and b) work in collaboration with this community to develop and pilot an intervention to address these needs. Participants from a range of socioeconomic status and ethnicity will be included. CBPR has been selected for its suitability for developing initiatives in partnership with people from marginalised communities and indigenous populations. This research is significant in that it seeks to improve the wellbeing of the families of people with disability and work towards reducing health inequities.