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The experience of surviving lifethreatning injury: A qualitative synthesis
Ogilvie, Rebekah McCloughen, Andrea Curtis, Kate Foster, Kim Narelle
Ogilvie, Rebekah
McCloughen, Andrea
Curtis, Kate
Foster, Kim Narelle
Abstract
Background: To summarize and synthesize research that explored the experience of surviving life-threatening injury in adolescents, young persons and adults. Methods: Informed by systematic literature review strategies, a description of the experience of individuals who survived life-threatening injury was sought by reviewing 13 studies with qualitative data on the phenomena. Data were managed using NVivo software and synthesized using thematic analysis to elicit meaning. Results: The review synthesized a substantial number (n = 273) of participant experiences of traumatic surviving life-threatening injury and revealed that during the initial 3 years following life-threatening injury, the individual goes through a shifting, iterative process in order to reconstruct various aspects of their injury and themselves, including mental, emotional, spiritual, physical and relational facets. Three major themes were illuminated: a time of chaos, negotiating injury and reconciling injury. In order to navigate through the experience of injury, family members were key sources of affirmation and support in anchoring the person to their life, in reconstructing themselves in the aftermath of injury and in coming to terms with the impacts of injury. Conclusion: This qualitative synthesis describes the iterative process individuals go through following life-threatening injury and the overwhelming need to reconstruct aspects of self as a way to create meaning. It demonstrates the need to gain further understanding of the influence of the family in recovery from injury and indicates that education is required to provide practical strategies to assist clinicians to develop appropriate and relevant patient goals and expectations.
Keywords
experience, injury, life-threatening, outcome, qualitative synthesis, systematic review
Date
2012
Type
Journal article
Journal
International Nursing Review
Book
Volume
59
Issue
3
Page Range
312-320
Article Number
ACU Department
School of Nursing, Midwifery and Paramedicine
Faculty of Health Sciences
Faculty of Health Sciences
Relation URI
Source URL
Event URL
Open Access Status
License
File Access
Controlled