Self-reported outcomes and patterns of service engagement after an acquired brain injury: a long-term follow-up study

ABSTRACT

Primary Objective

To describe the clinical characteristics, self-reported outcomes in domains relating to activities of daily living and patterns of service engagement in the survivors of a moderate-to-severe acquired brain injury over seven years.

Research Design

A longitudinal research design was used.

Methods and Procedures

Thirty-two individuals who sustained a moderate-to-severe acquired brain injury completed a Sociodemographic and Support Questionnaire at one (t1) and seven years (t2) after completing a publicly funded inpatient neurorehabilitation program.

Main Outcomes and Results

There were minimal changes in independent living, mobility, ability to maintain key relationships and in return to work in the interval between t1 and t2. Sixty-nine percent of participants engaged with two or more allied health professional services and 75% engaged with support services in the community over the seven years.

Conclusions

There were minimal additional gains in outcomes relating to activities of daily-living and there was a high level of service need in the first decade postinjury. Young and middle-aged individuals who sustain an ABI may continue to live in the community for decades with some level of disability and may require ongoing access to services.

KEYWORDS:

• Acquired brain injury
• ABI
• longitudinal outcomes
• longitudinal service engagement

Acknowledgments

NA, AH, SC, DH and FOK contributed to the research design and protocol development. MLFA and AH recruited the participants and performed the outcome assessments. DMT, NB, FOK analysed the data. DMT, NA, MLFA, AMH, AH, SC, RR, DH, JB, NB and FOK prepared, edited and contributed the manuscript preparation. This study was supported by a Health Research Board (HRB) Summer Scheme Scholarship to L.M.F.A. (SS/2012/155). We wish to thank the participantswho so generously contributed their time to this study.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Health Research Board (HRB) [SS/2012/155].