Examining the ezperiences of disabled individuals exposed to traffic accidents via focus group study

The effects of the permanent effects of traumatic injuries, the loss of function and role, the long term treatment process and legal processes on the individual as a result of traffic accidents have caused a requirement for studying biological, psychological and social aspects of the traumatic outcomes that observed after traffic accidents. This study was planned to evaluate the effect of a focus group study that applied to individuals with disability after traffic accidents, which is developed in the light of the principles and techniques of cognitive behavioral approach, on the levels of posttraumatic growth and social functioning of individuals based on change of cognitions after trauma. The study was desinged as a qualitative study, which was conducted among individual exposed to traffic accidents via focus group study to examine the frameworks of understanding the accident scene and the schemes for disability, experiences of post-traumatic growth and social functioning, perspectives about self coping styles and also meaningful positive changes. In- depth interviews were conducted with eight individuals, who met the inclusion criteria, and focus gorup study was performed between December 18, 2017 and March 12, 2018 among four individuals that are voluntary to participate in the study. According to the research findings, as examined the reports obtained via in- depth interviews and during focus group process, it was observed that disabled individuals exposed to traffic accident have obvious outcomes, which indicate the development about individual awareness and learning process related to cognitive reconstruction on ''worthlessness' and 'helplessness' schemes. Moreover, it was appeared family support, spirituality and state assistance for disabled people as a faciliatator for understanding the value of survival and an increasing factor for posttraumatic growth. Additionally, it was observed that the pattern of focusing on positive factors, view of survival and empathy and also, spirituality, family support and social environment have contributed to posttraumatic growth. Thus, in the light of this study about examing posttraumatic growth and social functionality deeply, designing experimental models by using principles and techniques of cognitive behavioral approach and measuring related variables are recommended for further studies.