Injured in traffic: experiences of care and rehabilitation

A traffic injury can be traumatic from both physical and emotional points of view. Nine people injured in a traffic environment were interviewed 6 months after the incident in a qualitative study about their experiences of pre-hospital and hospital care and subsequent rehabilitation. The transcribed data were analysed using qualitative content analysis. Four themes emerged: (i) facing commotion, (ii) experiencing trust and security, (iii) lacking security and support, and (iv) struggling to return to everyday life. The main findings in the study indicate that the quality in the interaction between people injured in traffic events and their care providers are of utmost importance. Interaction must be seen as a dialectic process in which caregivers are open to the injured person's needs. An open-minded caregiver makes recovery easier for the injured.