Trauma patients’ perspectives on the needs, understanding and usefulness of personalized predictions for life after injury: A qualitative interview study using thematic analysis

Saar Hommes*, Ruben Vromans, Mariska de Jongh, Thymen Houwen, Nadine Bol, Eveline de Groot, Marjolijn Antheunis, Emiel Krahmer

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleScientificpeer-review

Abstract

Purpose
To explore trauma patients’ perspectives on the need, understanding and usefulness of personalized predictions after injury to assist in rehabilitation.

Methods
We performed semi-structured online interviews. Participants (N = 30 trauma patients, admitted to the hospital for an injury in the past 5 years) were exposed to a support tool that provides personalized predictions on recovery after injury. Interview data were transcribed verbatim and thematically analyzed.

Results
Four themes were identified. Patients expressed (1) a need for personal information and felt that information about recovery was lacking. The most important (2) reasons for needing to receive personalized predictions were reassurance and managing expectations. However, (3) understanding the prediction model was challenging. Patients expressed receiving relatively poor predictions would not undermine (4) usefulness in practice, as they would rather know about what life has in store for them so they can prepare for life after injury better.

Conclusions
Trauma patients have a need for receiving personalized predictions as they perceive them to be a useful addition to clinical practice. Understanding such predictions might be challenging, so more time should be spent on how these can be communicated.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1-11
Number of pages11
JournalDisability and Rehabilitation
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Feb 2025

Keywords

  • health education
  • patient participation
  • information technology
  • traumatology
  • rehabilitation

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