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Abstract(s)
Os traumatismos crânio-encefálicos constituem um dos grandes problemas de saúde
pública, principalmente na população adulta jovem. Este facto é preocupante, pois uma
das principais consequências após a lesão é a dificuldade em ingressar/reingressar no
mercado de trabalho, devido especialmente a problemas cognitivos e comportamentais.
Porque o emprego é considerado como uma das áreas de participação mais importantes
para as pessoas em idade adulta, é objetivo deste trabalho identificar que dificuldades
estão a ser mais impeditivas para o regresso ao trabalho, tanto do ponto de vista da
pessoa que sofreu a lesão, como de um familiar próximo, e comparar estas perspetivas
com os resultados da avaliação neuropsicológica. Para tal, foi realizado um estudo
qualitativo com cinco pessoas que sofreram TCE e respetivos familiares. Para além da
avaliação neuropsicológica, foi realizada uma entrevista semiestruturada, de forma
separada a ambos os intervenientes, e passado um questionário (EBIQ-European Brain
Injury Questionnnaire, versão portuguesa, Santos et al., 2001), também a ambos,
destinado à avaliar a experiência subjetiva de vida. Cada caso foi analisado de forma
individualizada, tendo-se verificado em todos uma discrepância entre a opinião dada
pelo indivíduo lesado e pelo seu familiar. No geral, os indivíduos que sofreram TCE
mostraram uma elevada falta de insight acerca das suas dificuldades, especialmente
comportamentais, sendo estas realçadas pelos familiares como as que maior impacto
têm para o seu regresso ao trabalho. A avaliação neuropsicológica mostrou que existem
mais dificuldades cognitivas do que as que foram relatadas pelos próprios avaliados,
mas também pelos seus familiares. Assim, a discordância de opiniões e sobretudo a falta
de conhecimento da situação concreta, por parte da pessoa que dá apoio, o familiar,
pode em muito contribuir para o não regresso ao trabalho e por tentativas frustradas de
reingresso, devido a espectativas irrealistas. Assim, o não regresso a uma atividade
produtiva, mesmo de nível inferior ao pré-mórbido, resultará de múltiplos fatores, para
além das incapacidades propriamente ditas, como a falta de informação dos familiares e
a falta de apoios fornecidos, tanto ao indivíduo que sofreu TCE, como à sua família
pelas equipas de reabilitação.
The traumatic brain injuries are a major public health problem, especially in the young adult population. This is cause for concern because one of the main consequences after injury is the difficulty in entering / re-entering the job market, especially due to behavioral and cognitive problems. Because employment is considered as one of the most important areas of interest to people in adulthood, the objective of this work is to identify difficulties that are being further impediment to the return to work, both from the point of view of the person who suffered the injury, like a close member of the family, and compare these perspectives with the results of neuropsychological assessment. To this purpose, we conducted a qualitative study with five people who have suffered TBI and their respective families. In addition to the neuropsychological assessment, a semistructured interview was conducted, separately for both respondents, and a questionnaire (EBIQ-European Brain Injury Questionnnaire, Portuguese version, Santos et al., 2001), designed to assess the subjective experience of life. Each case was analyzed individually, and all of them showed a discrepancy between the opinion given by the injured individual and their family. In general, individuals who have suffered TBI showed a high lack of insight about their difficulties, especially behavioral, which are highlighted by relatives as the ones that have the greatest impact for their return to work. Neuropsychological assessment showed more cognitive difficulties than those that were reported by the assessed, but also by their relatives. Thus, the disagreement of opinions and especially the lack of knowledge for the actual situation, in relation to the family, can greatly contribute to no-returning to work and failed attempts at re-entry due to unrealistic expectations. Thus, no-returning to a productive activity, even below the pre-morbid level, is the result of multiple factors, in addition to the disabilities, such as lack of information and lack of family support provided to both the individual who suffered TBI, and his family by the rehabilitation teams.
The traumatic brain injuries are a major public health problem, especially in the young adult population. This is cause for concern because one of the main consequences after injury is the difficulty in entering / re-entering the job market, especially due to behavioral and cognitive problems. Because employment is considered as one of the most important areas of interest to people in adulthood, the objective of this work is to identify difficulties that are being further impediment to the return to work, both from the point of view of the person who suffered the injury, like a close member of the family, and compare these perspectives with the results of neuropsychological assessment. To this purpose, we conducted a qualitative study with five people who have suffered TBI and their respective families. In addition to the neuropsychological assessment, a semistructured interview was conducted, separately for both respondents, and a questionnaire (EBIQ-European Brain Injury Questionnnaire, Portuguese version, Santos et al., 2001), designed to assess the subjective experience of life. Each case was analyzed individually, and all of them showed a discrepancy between the opinion given by the injured individual and their family. In general, individuals who have suffered TBI showed a high lack of insight about their difficulties, especially behavioral, which are highlighted by relatives as the ones that have the greatest impact for their return to work. Neuropsychological assessment showed more cognitive difficulties than those that were reported by the assessed, but also by their relatives. Thus, the disagreement of opinions and especially the lack of knowledge for the actual situation, in relation to the family, can greatly contribute to no-returning to work and failed attempts at re-entry due to unrealistic expectations. Thus, no-returning to a productive activity, even below the pre-morbid level, is the result of multiple factors, in addition to the disabilities, such as lack of information and lack of family support provided to both the individual who suffered TBI, and his family by the rehabilitation teams.
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Keywords
TCE Emprego Formas de avaliação TBI Employment Assessments methods