Monash University Accident Research Centre, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Centre for Health Policy, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
PLoS One. 2018 Apr 25;13(4):e0196337. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0196337. eCollection 2018.
Social support has been identified as a significant factor in facilitating better health outcomes following injury. However, research has primarily focused on the role of social support from the perspective of the person experiencing an injury. Limited research has examined the experiences of the family members and friends of a person with injury. This study aims to explore the perceptions and experiences of social support and recovery following a transport-related musculoskeletal injury (MSI) in a population of injured persons and their family members and friends.
This study was conducted using a phenomenological qualitative research design. In-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with ten persons with MSI, recruited via the Transport Accident Commission (TAC) in Victoria, Australia. Seven family members and friends were also interviewed. The data was analysed using constant comparative method and thematic analysis.
Several themes were identified including: (1) key sources and types of support received, (2) relationship development and (3) challenges of providing and receiving support. Participants with MSI reported stories about how the social network provided emotional and tangible support. Family members and friends confirmed the supportive acts provided to the participants with MSI. Positive iterative changes in relationships were reported by the participants with MSI. Participants with MSI, their family members and friends described several difficulties including loss of independence, feeling like a burden, and the impact of caring on health and well-being.
The role of social support is complex given the multitude of people involved in the recovery process. The findings of this study suggest that persons with MSI may benefit from support groups and maintenance of existing support networks. Furthermore, family members and friends engaged in the recovery process may benefit from support in this role.
社会支持已被确定为促进受伤后更好健康结果的重要因素。然而，研究主要集中在受伤者视角下的社会支持作用。有限的研究考察了受伤者的家庭成员和朋友的经历。本研究旨在探讨受伤者及其家庭成员和朋友在交通相关肌肉骨骼损伤（MSI）后的社会支持和康复的看法和经验。
本研究采用现象学定性研究设计。通过澳大利亚维多利亚州运输事故委员会（TAC）招募了 10 名 MSI 患者进行深入的半结构化访谈。还采访了 7 名家庭成员和朋友。使用恒定性比较法和主题分析对数据进行分析。
确定了几个主题，包括：（1）接受的主要支持来源和类型，（2）关系发展，（3）提供和接受支持的挑战。MSI 患者报告了关于社交网络如何提供情感和实际支持的故事。家庭成员和朋友证实了向 MSI 患者提供的支持行为。MSI 患者报告了关系的积极迭代变化。MSI 患者、他们的家庭成员和朋友描述了一些困难，包括丧失独立性、感觉像负担以及照顾对健康和幸福的影响。
考虑到参与康复过程的人数众多，社会支持的作用是复杂的。本研究的结果表明，MSI 患者可能受益于支持小组和现有支持网络的维护。此外，参与康复过程的家庭成员和朋友可能会从这种角色的支持中受益。
