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Table 2 Percent misconceptions among nursing students for traumatic brain injury

From: Misconceptions about traumatic brain injury among nursing students in India: implications for nursing care and curriculum

Category

Items

Item-wise correct response

Respondents

With misconceptions

n (%)

Prevention

1.You don’t need seatbelts as long as you can brace yourself before a crash

F

125 (87.4)

2.It is more important to use seatbelts on long trips than in driving around town

F

53 (37.1)

3. It is safer to be trapped inside a wreck than to be thrown clear

T

94 (65.7)

4. Wearing seatbelts causes as many injuries as it prevents

F

84 (58.7)

Mean % of misconceptions

 

62.2

Brain damage

5. A head injury can cause brain damage even if the person is not knocked out

T

122 (85.3)

6. A little brain damage doesn’t matter much, since people only use a part of their brains anyway

F

126 (88.1)

7. It is obvious that someone has brain damage because they look different from people who don’t have brain damage

F

97 (67.8)

8. Whiplash injuries to the neck can cause brain damage even if there is no direct blow to the head

T

118 (82.5)

Mean % of misconceptions

 

80.9

Brain injury sequelae

9. It is common for people with brain injuries to be easily angered

T

81 (56.6)

10. It is possible that a person’s personality will change after a brain injury

T

104 (72.7)

11.Problems with speech, coordination, and walking can be caused by brain damage

T

131 (91.6)

12. Problems with irritability and difficulties controlling anger are common in people who have had a brain injury

T

117 (81.8)

13. Most people with brain damage are not fully aware of its effect on their behaviour

T

123 (86.0)

14. Brain injury patients usually show a good understanding of their problems because they experience them every day

F

62 (43.4)

15. Brain injuries may cause one to feel depressed, sad and hopeless

T

118 (82.5)

16. Drinking alcohol may affect a person differently after a brain injury

T

116 (81.1)

17. It is common for people to experience changes in behaviour after a brain injury

T

110 (76.9)

 

Mean % of misconceptions

 

74.7

Unconsciousness

18. When people are knocked unconscious, most wake up quickly with no lasting effects

F

66 (46.2)

19. People in a coma are usually not aware of what is happening around them

T

116 (81.1)

20. Even after several weeks in coma, when people wake up, most recognise and speak to others right away

F

48 (33.6)

Mean % of misconceptions

 

53.6

Amnesia

21. People usually have more trouble remembering things that happen after an injury than remembering things from before

T

115 (80.4)

22. Sometimes a second blow to the head can help a person remember things that were forgotten

F

61 (42.7)

23. A person with a brain injury may have trouble remembering events that happened before the injury, but usually does not have trouble learning new things

F

35 (24.5)

24. People with brain injury can forget who they are and not recognise others, but be normal in every other way

F

29 (20.3)

Mean % of misconceptions

 

42.0

Recovery

25.Recovery from a brain injury usually is complete in about 5 months

F

80 (55.9)

26. Complete recovery from a severe brain injury is not possible, no matter how badly the person wants to recover

T

81 (56.6)

27. Once a person is able to walk again, his/her brain is almost fully recovered

F

63 (44.1)

28. Slow recovery may continue even 1 year after injury

T

119 (83.2)

29. It is necessary for a person to go through a lot of physical pain to recover from a brain injury

F

30 (21.0)

30. Once a person with a brain injury realises where they are, they will always be aware of this

F

44 (30.8)

31. A person who has recovered from a head injury is less able to withstand a second blow to the head

T

106 (74.1)

32. Asking persons who have had a brain injury about their progress is the most accurate, informative way to find out how they have progressed

F

38 (26.6)

33. It is good advice to remain completely inactive during recovery from a brain injury

F

83 (58.0)

34. Once a person recovering from a brain injury feels ‘back to normal’ the recovery process is complete

F

38 (26.6)

35. How quickly a person recovers depends mainly on how hard he or she works at recovering

F

29 (20.3)

Mean % of misconceptions

 

45.2

Rehabilitation

36. ‘Cognitive’ refers to thinking processes such as memory, attention and learning

T

135 (94.4)

37. ‘Cognitive’ refers to the ability to move your body

F

106 (74.1)

38. The primary goal of brain injury rehabilitation is to increase physical abilities such as walking

F

48 (33.6)

 

Mean % of misconceptions

 

67.4

  1. The entries in boldface represent the mean%