Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Rehabilitation following a road traffic injury is a complex process with medical, social, and economic dimensions. This study investigates the long-term outcomes ten years after the injury, focusing on care continuity, insurance coverage, and legal implications. METHODOLOGY: The initial sample included 52 patients admitted to the intensive care units (ICUs) of Crete Region, Greece during 2013–2014 upon sustaining road traffic injures. Ten years later, communication was established with 34 of them. Data were collected via telephone interviews and analysis included personal testimonies, which were evaluated through qualitative content analysis and comparative assessment with the initial data. RESULTS: 88% of patients reported partial rehabilitation, with remaining physical and psychosocial consequences. After hospital discharge, there was no follow-up from their attending physician, which resulted in patients seeking care either at outpatient clinics with additional cost or from private doctors. In 82% of cases, there was a need for additional physical therapy sessions than those covered by insurance providers, while 91% of patients reported significant out-of-pocket expenses for medical supplies, private doctors, private nurses, and rehabilitation centers. Additionally, 16% reported transparency issues in their legal cases. CONCLUSIONS: The study shows that rehabilitation after road traffic injuries remains incomplete for a high percentage of injured patients, with high rates of partial improvement and permanent damage. There is a highlighted need for better organization of post-hospital care, securing continuity in medical follow-up, adequate and timely insurance coverage, and institutional transparency. KEY MESSAGES: • Insufficient care continuity, limited insurance coverage, and financial burden are significant obstacles for patients and families sustaining an injury in a road traffic incident. TOPIC: Rehabilitation, Road Traffic Injury, Socioeconomic Burden