Reintegration into the Community after Head Injury: The Results of an Ethnographic Study

Abstract

As a result of medical advancements that prolong life and the cultural patterns of Western society, head injury is increasingly a problem for the injured, their families, and medical and social service professionals. This paper reports the findings of an ethnographic study of 21 moderately head-injured persons living in the community and of their social networks. Three fieldwork strategies were used to collect the data: semistructured interviews, participant observation, and documentary review. The data were subjected to thematic and content analysis. A portion of the findings is described in terms of recasting strategies, which are linked to a theoretical concept of loss of self-identity and personhood. The relation of the findings to other research on head injury as well as their relevance to practice and research in occupational therapy are also discussed.

Keywords

head injuries qualitative method rehabilitation psychosocial

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