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Aim: Very few studies have focused on how children with traumatic brain injuries (TBI) access and use publicly funded healthcare and educational services. We aimed to compare the symptoms, recovery and service use of children with TBIs and a control group with other traumatic injuries. Methods: This case–control study was conducted at Oslo University Hospital, Norway, from 2015 to 2020. It focused on 49 patients aged 1–15 years who were hospitalised with TBIs and compared them with 51 matched patients with other traumatic injuries. Unmet needs were based on reports from parents, patients and clinicians 6 months after the injury. Results: Many children hospitalised after TBIs experienced persistent cognitive and emotional symptoms that effected their return to school and subsequent social interactions. These were associated with reduced quality of life. Nearly half (47%) of the children in the TBI group had unmet needs after 6 months, compared to 12% of the controls. Patients with TBIs also had more symptoms and showed less favourable recoveries than the controls. Conclusion: Paediatric patients with TBIs had long‐term cognitive and emotional symptoms that affected their return to school and social functioning. Almost half of them had unmet needs 6 months after their acute injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To examine the impact of the COVID‐19 pandemic on the mental health of parents of infants with colic and on healthcare use. Methods: Retrospective cohort study. Data of 64 parents of infants with colic prepandemic and 43 parents of infants with colic during the pandemic were analysed using validated questionnaires on parental stress, depression and anxiety. Additionally, we evaluated the number of outpatient clinic visits and admission rates pre‐ and during the pandemic by collecting data on the diagnosis treatment combination 'excessive crying' from electronic patient files in three secondary hospitals in the Netherlands. Results: Mothers in the pandemic group reported significantly higher levels of depression than mothers in the prepandemic group (12.3 ± 7.0 and 8.8 ± 5.2; p = 0.04). Moreover, mothers showed a trend towards higher stress levels during the pandemic (29.6 ± 9.6 and 25.2 ± 8.1; p = 0.06). During the pandemic, admission numbers of infants with colic compared to prepandemic data increased with 34% (146 vs. 196). Conclusion: Mothers of infants with colic reported significantly more feelings of depression during the COVID‐19 pandemic. Furthermore, the pandemic was associated with increased healthcare use amongst infants with colic. With the continuing pandemic, we recommend active perinatal support for this vulnerable population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: This study assessed the self-reported health perception and use of health care by adults born very preterm before 30 weeks of gestation.Methods: The participants were part of a cross-sectional observational study that assessed the global health of young adults aged 18-29 years born very preterm in Quebec, Canada. Health perception was explored from 2011 to 2016 using the second Short-Form 36 Health Survey (SF-36v2), and objective health measures were obtained. Further in-depth open-ended questions were asked in 2018.Results: The 101 preterm subjects had similar perceptions of their health to 105 term-born controls, according to the SF-36v2, despite significantly more adverse health conditions. Their healthcare use was similar. However, the later in-depth questionnaire showed that 23% of 45 preterm subjects and 3% of 34 term-born subjects perceived their health as poorer than the general population. Major factors that could improve their respective health were lifestyle habits (74% vs. 81%) and eliminating specific adverse symptoms (52% vs. 27%). Only 10% of preterm individuals had been asked about their perinatal history by physicians.Conclusion: Adults born very preterm said their health was poorer than the general population and identified specific factors that should be addressed during routine health monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To estimate healthcare use and related costs for 2-year-old very preterm (VP) children after discharge from the neonatal unit.Methods: As part of a European project, we recruited an area-based cohort including all VP infants born in three Italian regions (Lazio, Emilia-Romagna and Marche) in 2011-2012. At 2 years corrected age, parents completed a questionnaire on their child health and healthcare use (N = 732, response rate 75.6%). Cost values were assigned based on national reimbursement tariffs. We used multivariable analyses to identify factors associated with any rehospitalisation and overall healthcare costs.Results: The most frequently consulted physicians were the paediatrician (85% of children), the ophthalmologist (36%) and the neurologist/neuropsychiatrist (26%); 38% of children were hospitalised at least once after the initial discharge, for a total of 513 admissions and over one million euros cost, corresponding to 75% of total healthcare costs. Low maternal education and parental occupation index, congenital anomalies and postnatal prematurity-related morbidities significantly increased the risk of rehospitalisation and total healthcare costs.Conclusion: Rehospitalisation and outpatient care are frequent in VP children, confirming a substantial health and economic burden. These findings should inform the allocation of resources to preventive and rehabilitation services for these children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]