Determining long-term symptoms following mild traumatic brain injury: Method of interview affects self-report

Abstract

Primary objective: To examine the role played by two interviewing methods used (spontaneous response and suggested response) in the evaluation of long-term subjective post-mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) symptoms.

Research design: Cohort study.

Method and procedures: One hundred and eight adult participants were contacted for a follow-up telephone interview 12–36 months after their mTBI. The participants had to firstly spontaneously indicate symptoms that were still present following their mTBI (spontaneous response). Secondly, a list of symptoms was read to the participants and they had to say whether or not they were afflicted by each symptom (suggested response). Paired t-tests were performed to compare the means obtained using the two methods. The percentage of symptoms reported with the two interviewing methods were used to analyse symptom types.

Experimental intervention: None.

Main outcomes and results: Results show that participants reported significantly more symptoms and a given symptom when a list was read to the participants. Furthermore, neither the number of symptoms nor the type of symptoms reported is identical for the two interviewing methods.

Conclusion: The interviewing method used influences the number and type of long-term post-mTBI symptoms reported by participants.

• Mild traumatic brain injury
• subjective symptoms
• assessment