Family needs in caregivers of individuals with traumatic brain injury from Colombia, South America

Objective: The aim of the present study was to determine the most and least important family needs in a group of family caregivers of individuals with TBI from Cali, Colombia, and to examine which of those needs were more likely to be met and unmet. Design: Cross-sectional descriptive study. Setting: Valle University Hospital in Cali, Colombia. Participants: Twenty-nine family caregivers of individuals with traumatic brain injury. Outcome measure: The Family Needs Questionnaire, a 40-item questionnaire divided into six sub-scales. Results: Health Information, Community Support Network and Professional Support Network sub-scales were the most important needs reported by this group of Colombian TBI family caregivers. The most frequently met needs in the present study fell within Health Information, Involvement with Care and Instrumental Support sub-scales and the most frequently unmet needs fell within the Emotional Support, Instrumental Support and Professional Support sub-scales. Conclusions: Family needs in caregivers of individuals with TBI from Colombia are similar, but more likely to be unmet, than those reported in previous studies. Interventions designed to meet family caregivers' needs in these areas should be implemented in Colombia.