The purpose of this descriptive research was to examine quality of life among patients with traumatic brain injury and factors influencing the quality of life among these patients. The participants were 111 patients with traumatic brain injury and the family caregivers who accompanied them to the follow-up clinic at the Neurosurgical Clinic, Out-Patient Department, Chachoengsao Hospital, Chonburi Hospital and Rayong Hospital. Data were collected from January to March 2003. Statistical analysis used were descriptive statistics, Pearson's product moment correlation, and stepwise multiple regression. The majority of patients were male (79.3%) with an average age of 34.5 years. Traffic accidents were the leading cause of injury (89.2%). Forty-one percent of them were diagnosed with subdural hematoma, 69.4% had a post concussion period duration of less than 6 months, 30.7% were in level 6 of the GOSE, and 50.5% had communication problem. The family caregivers were female (88.3%) with an average age of 44.19 years. They were the parents or spouses of the patients. More than half of them (64.9%) had an average family income of less than 10,000 baht per month and only 27.0% had sufficient income with savings. The factors that were related to quality of life were disability level, capability of family caregiver and sufficient family financial status. The stepwise multiple regression analysis showed that disability level, capability of family caregiver, and sufficient family financial status could explain the variation in the quality of life among patients with traumatic brain injury by 74.8% (p < .01). In order to promote quality of life in patients with traumatic brain injury, effective care to foster recovery process, an intervention to promote family caregivers' capabilities, and a strategy to provide patients' family with essential resources are strongly recommended.

M.N.S. ADULT NURSING มหาวิทยาลัยมหิดล ปี 2546

of, Family, Quality, DISABILITY, life, INJURY, CAREGIVER, BRAIN, TRAUMATIC