Measuring health-related quality of life (HRQoL) has an important role in the comprehensive assessment of patient recovery following traumatic brain injury (TBI). We examined the validity of domain and summary scores derived from the Medical Outcomes Survey 36-Item Short Form Health Questionnaire (SF-36) as outcome measures for TBI in a prospective study of 514 patients with a range of functional impairment (Glasgow Outcome Scale-Extended [GOSE] scores 3-8). Item scaling criteria for the eight domain scores were tested and principal component analysis was used to examine if physical and mental component summary scores were valid. External validity was assessed by comparison with GOSE. Mean response, variance, and distribution of the items were largely equivalent, and item-own scale correlations corrected for overlap all exceeded the threshold for equivalent contribution to domain scores and convergent validity. All corrected item-own scale correlations were greater than the respective item-other correlations indicating no scaling failures, and reliability coefficients for the domain scores were high and substantially more than the inter-domain correlations. Overall, criteria for summing items into domain scores were satisfied, and there was a significant relationship of increasing score with more favorable GOSE class across all domains. However, there were floor and/or ceiling effects in four of the eight domains, and principal component analysis of the domain scores demonstrated only a unidimensional structure to the data. We conclude that individual SF-36 domain scores are valid measures of HRQoL in TBI patients, but that the physical and mental component summaries should be interpreted with caution.

Young people in long-term foster care are at risk of experiencing poor social, emotional, behavioural and educational outcomes. Moreover, these placements have a significantly greater chance of breaking down compared to those involving children. This article critically evaluates the factors associated with this particular outcome. It was carried out through a literature review conducted by a social work practitioner in one Health and Social Care Trust in Northern Ireland. The findings evidenced that, apart from overriding safety concerns, placement breakdown was not a one-off event but rather a complex process involving the interplay between a range of dynamic risk and protective factors over time, operating in the wider context of the young person's history and life experiences. The significance of these findings for social work practitioners is finally considered by identifying key theories to inform understanding and intervention.

Survivors of head injury are often left with varying degrees of disability and complex and varied needs, necessitating prolonged periods of rehabilitation and continuing care. Advances have been made in the acute management of these patients, but continuing management in terms of rehabilitation remains deficient with lack of specialist resources and a fragmented service. For head-injured patients, lack of access to appropriate ongoing rehabilitation may have profound effects on outcome and social re-integration. There are also considerable economic implications for planning and provision of services. The aims of this paper are to describe, review and evaluate the role of a Neurotrauma clinic within the Head Injury Service at Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge. The multidisciplinary Neurotrauma clinic commenced in June 2003 following an extensive collaborative research programme to assess current regional head injury service provision and address deficiencies and management issues. Patients of all ages with ongoing problems following varying severity of head injury are followed up at 2 months + post-injury for as long as appropriate. Patients complete an SF-36 and GOSE questionnaire at each clinic appointment and this self-reported data is complemented by neuropsychological assessments, and demographic data entered on a database. The clinic acts as a 'gateway' to access appropriate ongoing rehabilitation and a source of information and support. The routine collection of outcome data enables tracking of individual patient progress and outcome and provides an information resource for further research. The findings highlight deficiencies in rehabilitation both in general service provision and specific patient need. Evidence in support of demand, need and effectiveness of rehabilitation for head injury is particularly relevant within the limited resources of the NHS. Early indications show that a specialist clinic can assist in providing continuity of patient care, in improving coordination of services, and act as a resource for further research on epidemiology, outcome and impact of rehabilitation.