The influence of cultural background on motivation for and participation in rehabilitation and outcome following traumatic brain injury

AIMS: To compare motivation for and participation in rehabilitation, outcome, and distress over role changes in persons with traumatic brain injury (TBI) from the dominant English-speaking culture in Australia versus those from minority culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds. MAIN MEASURES: Motivation for Traumatic Brain Injury Rehabilitation Questionnaire; Craig Handicap Assessment Reporting Technique. PARTICIPANTS: Two groups of persons with TBI, 38 of English-speaking backgrounds and 32 of CALD backgrounds. RESULTS: Groups had similar education and preinjury employment status, both showed positive attitudes toward rehabilitation and participated equally in rehabilitation. However, CALD participants showed poorer outcomes in several domains, including postinjury employment status, cognitive independence, mobility and social integration, and showed greater distress about changes in ability to perform certain life roles. CONCLUSIONS: Differences in outcome and levels of distress over role changes may occur in those from CALD backgrounds following TBI, independent of socioeconomic background and access to rehabilitation. There is a need to further investigate possible reasons for this, including beliefs, coping style, and emotional response to injury.