Assessment of family needs following acquired brain injury in Saskatchewan

Primary objective: The objective was to learn what the family members of individuals with acquired brain injury (ABI) perceived as important needs and to what extent these needs are being met.

Methods and procedures: Sixty-six individuals who care for someone with an ABI and who receive service from the Saskatchewan South ABI Outreach Team completed the Family Needs Questionnaire (FNQ).

Main outcomes: An analysis of the importance ratings found that the most important needs were related to health information. Most needs perceived as unmet were related to emotional support.

Conclusions: Caregivers indicated that having honest, accurate comprehensive information regarding the ABI survivor is important. Respondents also indicated that approximately one-half of the needs have gone unmet or only partly met. This study highlights the importance for service providers to assess family needs in order to minimize distress in caregivers, maintenance of the well being of whom is integral in the support of the person with ABI.