Volume 30, Issue 1, 2021
DOI: 10.24205/03276716.2020.2045
Group-Based Disclosure Intervention for Psychological Adjustment among Chinese Patients with an Accidental Injury: A Pilot Study
Abstract
Background: Psychological adjustment following an accidental injury is important for personal growth. We assessed the feasibility and short-term effects of a group-based disclosure intervention (GBDI) on posttraumatic growth (PTG) in Chinese patients with an accidental injury.
Methods: A quasi-experimental design with pre- and post-tests was used. Inpatients (N=36) were assigned to either the intervention (5 weekly 1-hour sessions involving the disclosure of their traumatic experience and related feelings) or usual care. The Chinese version of the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory, the Positive Affect and Negative Affect Schedule, the Event Related Rumination Inventory, the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire, and the Multi-dimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support were used as key outcome measures at Week 5. Participants were also interviewed about their perceptions of the GBDI program.
Results: The effect of the GBDI on PTG was compared based on whether previous disclosure had occurred. Overall, 40 of 44 patients (90.9%) participated, with 36 (90%) completing the study. The GBDI significantly improved PTG, positive affect, and cognitive reappraisal, while reducing rumination. Greater improvement was found in those who had not disclosed their experience prior to the intervention.
Conclusions: This study provides some evidence to support the use of the GBDI on patients with an accidental injury in China. The GBDI has the potential to be a useful intervention for accidentally injured patients in terms of improving their psychological adjustment and to provide clinical nurses with a potential approach to help patients positively adapt to a traumatic accident.
Keywords
Accidents; Disclosure; Group intervention; Posttraumatic growth