Participation in everyday occupations in a late phase of recovery after brain injury

The aim of this study was to describe to what extent individuals of working age, in a late phase after an acquired brain injury, participate in everyday occupations related to home maintenance, work, and leisure. The aim was also to evaluate if participation in different occupations influences their life satisfaction. A sample of 157 people consecutively admitted to a rehabilitation clinic between June 1995 and December 2000 answered a mailed questionnaire. The subjects who were of working age had had a brain injury on average 6 years before this study. The perceived participation was reported using the Reintegration to Normal Living Index (RNL) and life satisfaction according to an expanded version of the LiSat 11. This study showed that in this late phase of recovery after brain injury the subjects still experienced many restrictions in participation in everyday occupations. The area with the lowest reported participation was work activity while most comfort with the situation was reported for self-care. The RNL subscales showed a significant connection with satisfaction with life as a whole. Furthermore an interaction was found between the two subscales "Daily living" and "Perception of self". This study showed restrictions in participation in the community even several years after brain injury, which underlines the need for rehabilitation services long after injury.