Partners’ experiences of caregiving and perceptions of inpatient rehabilitation following catastrophic injury

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this study is to critically review the research literature investigating the experiences of providing care to a spouse or partner during inpatient rehabilitation following a catastrophic injury (namely, stroke, traumatic brain injury or spinal cord injury) and their perceptions of inpatient rehabilitation service delivery. Method: An integrative review was undertaken to determine the extent to which the topic has been investigated. Quantitative and qualitative research papers were systematically identified in peer-reviewed journals in electronic databases. Findings: Five articles published between 1994 and 2016 reported on four studies investigating the experiences of caregiving specifically by a spouse/partner to a person receiving rehabilitation following a stroke. No research was found that committed to understanding the experiences of the spouse/ partner and their perceptions of inpatient rehabilitation service delivery following traumatic brain injury and spinal cord injury exclusively. Conclusion: The diverse aspects of caregiving are not an area of inquiry in rehabilitation service delivery following a traumatic brain injury or spinal cord injury. Further research in this area is warranted.