A critical evaluation of written discharge advice for people with mild traumatic brain injury: What should we be looking for?

Abstract

The content, style, readability and usefulness of written mTBI discharge advice was highly variable. The provision of written information to patients with mTBI is advised, but this variability in materials highlights the need for evaluation before distribution. Areas are identified to guide the improvement of written mTBI discharge advice.

Discharge Education for Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Patients at Emergency Department

“…The benefit of this method is a simple instruction that is specific to the patient condition. However, this method is not appropriate for the patient and caregiver who are not be able to read (Bay & Strong, 2011;Buckley et al, 2013;Engel et al, 2012;Ismail et al, 2015;Kempe et al, 2014;Kornburger et al, 2013;Nurhayati & Madsiri, 2019;Zavala et al, 2011).…”

“…Antiseizure medication or anticonvulsan may be given to reduce the risk of seizures activity that significantly increased methabolic, cerebral blood flow, and Intracranial Pressure (ICP). Antipyretic is used to decrease body temperature and metabolic need of brain, thereby reducing the volume of blood to the brain to supply oxygen and glucose (Bay & Strong, 2011;Engel et al, 2012;Ismail et al, 2015;Kempe et al, 2014;White et al, 2013;Zavala et al, 2011).…”

“…This information include self-care ability, wound care for an open head injury, how to prevent complication, timing for a follow-up appoinment with the appropriate pysician, and how to connect with health services nearest to them. Furthermore, encourage the patient to perform range-of-motion exercises to prevent deep vein thrombosis, encourage them as much activity as possible (Bay & Strong, 2011;Curran et al, 2017;Engel et al, 2012;Kempe et al, 2014;Ismail et al,. 2015).…”

“…Clinical warning sign information that should trigger patient and caregiver to return immediately to ED. Educate the patient and caregiver to notify the physician or bring the patient to the emergency department if they occur; difficulty in awakening or speaking, confusion, severe headache, vomiting, and weakness of one side of the body to get an emergency care (Engel et al, 2012;Kempe et al, 2014;Kornburger et al, 2013).…”

Traumatic brain injury education for adult patients and families: a scoping review

“…discharge instructions) supplied to patients and caregivers admitted to emergency care with mTBI. Survey studies focused on collecting and comparing such materials from regional hospitals have been conducted in the United States and Canada (15), England (16), Australia (17), Scotland (18), and New Zealand (19). These reports have emphasised the wide variability in the content provided to patients with mTBI and have called for more uniform, more accurate, and easier-to-read materials.…”