SOCIAL PARTICIPATION AND HEALTH-RELATED QUALITY OF LIFE BEFORE AND DURING THE SECOND WAVE OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC IN INDIVIDUALS WITH TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY: A FOLLOW-UP EXPLORATORY CORRELATIONAL STUDY

OBJECTIVE: Little is known about the effects of SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) on quality of life and social participation in individuals with traumatic brain injury. We aimed to compare social participation and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in a sample of individuals with TBI before and during the second wave of COVID-19 and explored the relationships between the perceived impacts of COVID-19, social participation, and HRQoL. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Eighteen individuals with traumatic brain injury with a mean (standard deviation) age of 47.7 (17.0) years at 48.2 (10.5) months post-injury were administered a questionnaire on overall disability and participation (Mayo-Portland Adaptability Inventory-4th edition; MPAI-4), HRQoL (Quality of Life after Brain Injury Questionnaire; QOLIBRI), and the Coronavirus Impacts Questionnaire before and during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic at an interval of 6.4 (SD = 8.2) months. RESULTS: Compared with pre-pandemic levels, individuals with traumatic brain injury reported a statistically significant decrease in the QOLIBRI total score and its emotional subscale (with medium to large effect sizes), but without statistically significant differences in MPAI-4 scores. Increased difficulties with access to resources during COVID-19 were associated with increased adjustment problems on the MPAI-4, and with daily life and autonomy difficulties, emotional issues, and lower physical functioning on the QOLIBRI. CONCLUSION: The relationships identified in this exploratory correlational study suggest that COVID-19 had a negative impact on quality of life in individuals with traumatic brain injury, but not specifically on their social participation. LAY ABSTRACT Little is known about the effects of SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) on the lives of individuals with traumatic brain injury. This study compared social participation and health-related quality of life in individuals with TBI before and during the second wave of COVID-19 and explored relationships between the perceived impacts of COVID-19, social participation, and health-related quality of life, but not specifically on social participation in individuals with traumatic brain injury. Also, increased difficulties with access to resources during COVID-19 were associated with increased adjustment problems, daily life and autonomy difficulties, emotional issues, and lower physical functioning.