Abstract

HORA, Edilene Curvelo; SOUSA, Regina Márcia Cardoso de  and  CHAVEZ ALVAREZ, Rocio Elizabeth. Characterization of caregivers of victims of traumatic brain injury on an outpatient follow-up program. Rev. esc. enferm. USP [online]. 2005, vol.39, n.3, pp. 343-349. ISSN 0080-6234.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0080-62342005000300013.

The present study characterized the main family caregiver of 50 victims of traumatic brain injury on an outpatient follow-up program of a trauma center in São Paulo through interviews and record analyses. The results revealed that caregivers had average age of 44.9, were mostly female, single, Catholic, had not completed elementary school and had no paid occupation prior to the trauma. One half of the main caregivers was the victim's mother, 22 percent was the spouse and 18 percent was a sibling. The presence of a secondary caregiver was observed in 48 percent of the cases.

Keywords : Brain injuries; Caregivers; Family nursing.