Family needs after traumatic brain injury: a factor analytic study of the Family Needs Questionnaire

The present investigation examined the empirical and theoretical validity of an instrument developed to assess family members' perceptions of needs following the brain injury of a relative. The Family Needs Questionnaire (FNQ) consists of 40 items reflecting commonly reported family needs. The development of the items was based on the literature describing family reactions to brain injury and other medical disabilities. A principal-components factor analysis was executed based on the FNQ responses of 178 family members. A six-factor solution was selection as the best fit for the data, yielding the following independent subscales: (1) Need for Health Information; (2) Need for Emotional Support; (3) Need for Instrumental Support; (4) Need for Professional Support; (5) Need for a Support Network; and (6) Need for Involvement with Care. Further analysis indicated at least adequate internal reliability for each scale. Overall, the measure appears to offer unique information relevant to family members' needs after brain injury.