Rehabilitation interventions after traumatic brain injury: a scoping review

Abstract

Purpose: To 1) identify interventional research topics in traumatic brain injury (TBI) rehabilitation, 2) describe potential knowledge gaps, and 3) uncover further needs for interventional TBI rehabilitation research for patients and families.Method: We searched three databases (2006)(2007)(2008)(2009)(2010)(2011)(2012)(2013)(2014)(2015)(2016)(2017)(2018)(2019) and screened 1552 non-duplicate articles.Titles and abstracts were screened for relevance, yielding 754 articles for full-text review. Of these, 425 were included, as relevant to the purpose of the scoping review.Findings: Among articles on TBI rehabilitation, the majority (71.8%) applied quantitative methodology; of these only 19.7% were randomized controlled trials. Severe TBI was described more often than mild/moderate TBI populations. Hospital vs community/home rehabilitation was 55.1% vs 37.2%; rehabilitation at workplace/school was described in only 4.5% articles, while in 7.2% the setting was undisclosed. Of 83 articles describing work/education, only 14 were in a work/school context. An additional focus in the work/education articles was activities of daily living (n=28), cognition (n=33) and emotions (n=23), few targeted family or network. Conclusion:The main attention of interventional TBI rehabilitation studies has been on severe TBI and long-term rehabilitation. Gaps identified were rehabilitation of mild/moderate TBI populations, older populations, acute/sub-phase rehabilitation, return to work issues and studies including the family.

Outlining the Invisible: Experiences and Perspectives Regarding Concussion Recovery, Return-to-Work, and Resource Gaps

“…Gaps during RTW and recovery reported by participants in this study are similar to those outlined by other researchers, for instance: (a) better collaboration between employers and healthcare professionals during RTW; (b) access to qualified professional expertise and interdisciplinary care; (c) need for social support and employer support; and (d) better awareness of mental, physical, and cognitive consequences of a TBI [31,32]. Researchers have recommended that post-TBI recovery programs should include more comprehensive considerations for the following groups: older patients; individuals with mild/moderate TBI; and individuals in the acute (0-6 weeks) and sub-acute (7 weeks-3 months) phases of rehabilitation [31]. It has also been suggested that there is a need for further research on RTW and activities of daily living post-TBI, the role of families and social networks, peer support, and continuity of post-concussion care [31].…”

Returning to work or working on one’s rehabilitation: Social identities invoked by impaired workers and professionals in health care and employment services

“…They can result in long rehabilitation processes involving various health care and social services, and, according to the injured persons themselves, several unmet needs (Andelic et al, 2014). However, rehabilitation interventions seldom address employment (Sveen et al, 2020).…”

The pattern of hospital-community-home (HCH) nursing in tracheostomy patients with severe traumatic brain injury: is it feasible?

“…It's been reported that the incidence of STBI ranks rst in the all types of trauma, accounting for 9% to 21% of trauma in all parts of the body, and the mortality is as high as 50% [2,3]. In recent years, with the improvement of trauma treatment and the development of intensive care medicine, the mortality of STBI has declined, but the quality of life and daily living ability of surviving TBI patients have declined signi cantly [4]. Therefore, it is necessary to carry out long-term nursing care and health education for such patients to promote their quality of life.…”