Rehabilitation needs of patients with physical disabilities due to traffic accidents for returning to the community: a qualitative study

Increase in road traffic accidents has led to increase in various degrees of injuries and disabilities with various physical limitations and disabilities. Fortunately, increasingly advances in sophisticated medical, nursing and rehabilitation sciences has led to most people with physical disabilities, would have be enable to return to the society. In order to return to the community the needs of people with disabilities should be well known as well as their presence in the community to be provided. The purpose o f this study was to understand the rehabilitation needs of patients with physical disabilities from road traffic accidents to return to the community.
A qualitative approach using conventional content analysis was adopted. 12 participants of both genders and age ranged between 18-45 years old with at least 3months physical disability in upper and lower limbs or spinal cord injury of two specialized hospitals and clinics affiliated to Tehran and Iran Universities of Medical Sciences were selected through purposive sampling. Data collected through in-depth semi-structured interviews and continued until data saturation. Data analysis was done continuously and simultaneously with data collection. Also constant comparison method with conventional content analysis approach was used.
Findings: Three themes emerged from the data analysis, including: (a) the need to be under the umbrella of support, (b) the need for continuity of care and (c) achieving independence. In fact, the needs of the clients were getting support from others, including family and community, continuity of care throughout their disability and the need for independence.
The needs identified in this study should be included in the designing of client care plans. Therefore, to achieve the independence of the physically disabled due to traffic accidents, providing sufficient support as well as the availability and continuity of care is suggested. Also a multi-dimensional rehabilitation model with the family and community-based rehabilitation approach should be used to provide the necessary cover to these three categories.