Service needs and barriers to care five or more years after moderate to severe TBI among Veterans

ABSTRACTPrimary objective: The objective of this paper is to identify the most frequent service needs, factors associated with needs, and barriers to care among Veterans and service members five or more years after moderate to severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). Research design: Survey administered via telephone 5–16 years after injury (median eight years) and subsequent acute inpatient rehabilitation at a regional Veterans Affairs (VA) medical centre. Methods and procedures: Participants were 119 Veterans and military personnel, aged 23–70 (median 35), 90% male. Demographics, injury characteristics, service needs, whether needs were addressed, barriers to care, health and general functioning were assessed. Main outcomes and results: The most frequent needs were for help with memory, information about available services and managing stress. Obtaining information about services was the most consistently un-addressed need; managing stress was the most consistently addressed need. Cognitive and psychiatric ...