FAMILIES OF CHILDREN WITH TRAUMATIC INJURIES IDENTIFY NEEDS FOR RESEARCH AND TRAINING

This paper summarizes the survey responses of 67 families with childre n who were hospitalized after traumatic injuries. The survey was condu cted during the pre-planning phase of a major research proposal on the rehabilitation of children who had been injured. The purpose of the s urvey was to involve families in the identification of needs and deter mination of priorities for research and training in childhood injuries . The first part of the survey focused on direct services that childre n and their families received through medical, psychosocial, education al and vocational interventions and providers. The second part concern ed the immediate and long-term effects of a child's injury upon the fa mily. Families were asked to indicate: (1) the direct care services th ey considered most important in their child's recovery; (2) areas need ing more research and study; (3) training needed by professionals; and (4) information needed by families. Major findings were the importanc e to families of emergency room treatment and the quality of hospital care; concerns about communication between professionals and parents; the uncertainty of expectations for the future; and lack of informatio n on community resources. Written comments emphasized the emotional im pact of physical trauma upon families and the need for longitudinal re search, with pediatric rehabilitation viewed as a broad spectrum of ca re starting with emergency room care and hospitalization and continuin g through school and community programs. As a result of this survey se veral projects were initiated. They include: revision of head sheets d istributed by emergency rooms, physician training in communication ski lls, preparation of families as service coordinators, and development of materials and programs specifically for families.