Christie, N;
Braaf, S;
Ameratunga, S;
Jowett, H;
Nunn, A;
Gabbe, B;
(2017)
The role of social networks in supporting the travel needs of people after serious traumatic injury: a nested qualitative study.
Journal of Transport and Health
, 6
pp. 84-92.
10.1016/j.jth.2017.07.004.
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Abstract
This study explores the importance of social networks and transport for people who had experienced a traumatic injury three years earlier. Many participants found travelling difficult because of pain, discomfort, fatigue and mobility impairments caused by their injuries which led them to be highly dependent on being a passenger in cars driven by others, or on public transport and taxis, to meet their travels needs. After injury, participants’ needs to travel were often high because they had to attend regular medical and physiotherapy appointments. They also needed to be able to travel to reengage with social activities. For those who used public transport or taxis, new challenges were faced in terms of the preplanning, lack of accessibility and availability of these modes. Participants that lived in rural areas with infrequent public transport keenly felt their dependence on others for transport as did those who were wheelchair dependent where car based travel was the only option. Participants described their dependence on others for travel as feeling they were a burden. For some participants their social network could not help with travel. This meant that they either did not travel or had to absorb the costs of taxis. Practical support from the Transport Accident Commission compensation scheme in terms of taxi vouchers were useful and appreciated. However, the service provided by taxis was perceived as costly and, at times, described as unreliable and unsafe. There were many hidden costs related to supporting the travel needs of injured people. Participants who could not travel and reengage with social activities felt emotionally low, isolated and vulnerable. Service providers need to consider injured people’s ability to access support for travel, the availability of accessible transport and help with travel costs in order to support their physical and psychological recovery.
| Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Title: | The role of social networks in supporting the travel needs of people after serious traumatic injury: a nested qualitative study |
| Open access status: | An open access version is available from UCL Discovery |
| DOI: | 10.1016/j.jth.2017.07.004 |
| Publisher version: | http://doi.org/10.1016/j.jth.2017.07.004 |
| Language: | English |
| Additional information: | © 2017 Published by Elsevier Ltd. This version is the author accepted manuscript. For information on re-use, please refer to the publisher’s terms and conditions. |
| Keywords: | Social networks, serious injury, recovery, mobility, qualitative, Social support; Travel; Trauma |
| UCL classification: | UCL UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS > Faculty of Engineering Science UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS > Faculty of Engineering Science > Dept of Civil, Environ and Geomatic Eng |
| URI: | https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/1566015 |
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