Exploring Compassion in Traumatic Brain Injury Screening for Underserved Populations

This study sought to explore how compassion manifests in traumatic brain injury (TBI) screening for underserved groups. Transcripts from focus groups of 10 persons (7 female, 3 male) with lived experience (PWLE) of precarious housing, criminal-legal involvement, and/or violence, and 11 service providers (9 female, 2 male) supporting PWLE with TBI were thematically analyzed, guided by principles of compassion. Six themes were identified on how compassion manifests in TBI screening: (1) awareness: perceptive insight into lived experience; (2) feeling: emotional resonance and empathy toward lived experience; (3) recognizing: identifying unique needs shaped by lived experience; (4) informed judgment for appropriate engagement: acknowledgement of suffering and taking action; (5) being human: compassionate care is valued and warranted; and (6) compassionate care: is there a role for digital technology. The findings revealed a lack of awareness and empathy by service providers regarding the experiences of underserved individuals, and limited recognition of PWLE’s needs and appropriate responses to address them. Concerns on digital technology and equitable access were highlighted. Compassionate care is lacking in TBI screening for underserved populations. Findings highlight the need for trauma-informed approaches in future research and responsive screening interventions that foster empathy, recognition, and understanding of lived experience.