Source
Department of Critical Care Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, PA 15261, USA. rotondi@pitt.edu
Abstract
OBJECTIVE:
To assess the feasibility of providing in-home adjunctive and supportive services to persons with traumatic brain injury (TBI) and their families via a Web site.
DESIGN:
Nineteen families were provided with access to the Web site intervention for 6 months. Those who needed it were provided with a computer and Internet service in their homes.
PARTICIPANTS:
Adult women who were the significant others of adult males with moderate-to-severe TBI.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE:
Value and ease of use of the Web site. Each participant's usage of the Web site was automatically tracked including each page visited, time of day, and time spent on the page.
RESULTS:
Female significant others found the Web site to be valuable and easy to use, and used it throughout the 6-month period. The on-line support group was the most used and valued module.
CONCLUSIONS:
Family caregivers will use Web-based interventions to help meet their needs for social support, information, and guidance following the return home of persons with TBI.