Family Outcomes After Traumatic Brain Injury

This scoping review aims to systematically identify and map the existing academic literature that examines the impact of traumatic brain injury (TBI) on family members. This stems from the growing recognition that family members of individuals with TBI face substantial challenges in managing the aftermath of the injury (Whiffin, Gracey and Ellis-Hill, 2021). Despite existing knowledge about the health outcomes of individuals with TBI, there remains a significant gap in understanding how the impact on families after TBI has been measured. These may include quality of life, social support, caregiving burden, emotional well-being, and financial strain, among others (Williams et al., 2018). Identifying these outcomes is vital in informing health practice and policy, as it can guide policy makers in the allocation of resources required to support this at risk group. This review aims to map the existing evidence on family-relevant outcomes and identify a comprehensive range of outcomes that matter to families caring for individuals with TBI. Furthermore, by examining the available data, this review will inform future research priorities, highlight gaps in knowledge, and lay the groundwork for the long term collection of family outcomes in the future.