Occupational gaps in everyday life 1-4 years after acquired brain injury.

OBJECTIVE To explore adaptation, by examining the occupational gaps occurring between what individuals want to do and what they actually do in terms of their everyday activities before and after brain injury. In addition, the relationships between occupational gaps and impairment/activity limitations and the time lapse since the brain injury were explored. DESIGN A cross-sectional study. SUBJECTS A total of 187 persons, affected by traumatic brain injury or subarachnoid haemorrhage 1-4 years previously. METHODS A postal questionnaire encompassing questions concerning gaps in the performance of activities in everyday life before and after the brain injury and perceived impairment/activity limitations. RESULTS The numbers of occupational gaps increased after the injury, with the number of gaps having increased from 46% to 71%. The number of occupational gaps was significantly related to executive impairment/activity limitations, and motor impairment/activity limitations and other somatic impairments, such as headache, also had an impact. The time lapse since the brain injury had no significant effect on the number of occupational gaps. CONCLUSION The results suggests that there is a need for adaptation in everyday activities, even several years after a brain injury, which indicates that follow-up and access to individualized rehabilitation interventions in the long-term are required.