Table 5.

Overview of Themes of Patient and Family Experience based on Synthesized Literature

Studies	Lutz et al., 2011 [46]	Fleming et al., 2012 [45]	Turner et al., 2011 [48]	Garrett & Cowdell, 2005 [47]	Mirr, 1991 [25]	Fraser, 1999 [49]	Brereton & Nolan, 2002 [39]	Bond et al., 2003 [10]	Silva-Smith, 2007 [15]	Keenan & Joseph, 2010 [50]	Gebhardt et al., 2011 [51]
Patient Experience Themes and Sub-themes
Perceptions of Rehabilitation
• Expectations for recovery	X
• Impact of the rehabilitation environment		X
• Perceptions of rehabilitation activities		X
• Perceived support		X
• Perceptions about discharge	X	X	X
Perceived Need for Information
• Immediately after injury				X
• During acute care/rehabilitation				X
• Before discharge				X
Family Experience Themes and Sub-Themes
Adjustment after Loved One’s Injury
• Emotional reactions	X	X			X	X				X
• Uncertainty	X				X					X
• Difficulty with transitions										X
Involvement in Care
• Physical presence					X					X
• Hands-on actions								X		X
• Other ways of involvement										X
Dealing with the Event
• Perceived support from others in community							X			X
• Perceived support from staff										X
• Taking it one day at a time						X
• Spirituality								X			X
• Accepting										X
Perceptions of the Patient’s Rehabilitation
• Expectations for patient’s recovery	X
• Observing the patient’s recovery								X		X	X
• Knowing the patient better							X				X
• Monitoring the patient’s care							X			X
• Holding on to hope						X				X	X
• Managing needs of the family					X		X		X	X
Perceptions of Relationships
• Family-family relationships					X					X	X
• Family-friend relationships					X
• Family-staff relationships					X			X		X
• Family-other relationships					X
Preparing for Upcoming Caregiver Role
• Attempting to gain knowledge and skills							X
• Gaining confidence							X
• Crisis of discharge	X					X
Perceived Need for Information
• Lack of understanding of information					X
• Wanting certain types of information		X		X			X	X		X
• Problems accessing staff and information		X					X
• Wanting no assumptions							X