Experiences of Care following a Road Traffic Collision: A Phenomenological Study of Injured Individuals in Italy

This study aimed to explore the experiences of care amongst severely injured individuals in Road Traffic Collisions (RTCs) in Italy, focussing on a phenomenological and idiographic understanding of the experiences of these individuals.

The large amount of evidence showing that RTC injuries often can lead to psychological comorbidities with prolonged recovery periods, and the paucity of qualitative studies on the experiences of care amongst these individuals, informed the rationale for the research question: “What are the experiences of hospital care received by individuals who have had severe injuries following an RTC in Italy?” To explore this research question semi-structured interviews were conducted in Italian with four Italian participants. Participants’ ages ranged from 24 to 55 years. Participants were two females and two males who were severely injured in a RTC within the last two years and consequently hospitalised for at least two days.

Interviews were transcribed and analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). Four Group Experiential Themes (GETs) emerged from the analysis: ‘Life-changing experience’, ‘Negative impact on emotional state’, ‘Inability to connect with emotions’ and ‘Meaningful connections matter’. Each of these GETs consisted of two or three sub-themes.

A key finding was the intense life-changing impact that the experiences of care can have on the lives of participants. Some of whom experienced powerlessness and anger whilst others saw it as an opportunity to change their lives. Additionally, participants explored those aspects of their care experiences that negatively impacted their emotional state. This was also related to their inability to connect with their emotions. Another key finding included the importance of being cared for in a holistic way, underlining the importance of receiving consistent emotional support as a result of the intense impact that the experiences of accidents often involve.

Findings of this study enhance current knowledge about the care experiences of RTC-injured individuals. Recommendations for clinical practice and future research are made, which take into account the experiences of RTC-injured individuals and the care they receive in hospital.