Search

Objective: Transition back to school following paediatric acquired brain injury (ABI) is complex. It must be facilitated by healthcare and educational professionals, who need to work together to return affected students to learning. This qualitative systematic review synthesizes qualitative studies on clinicians’ and educators’ experiences of facilitating hospital-to-school transitions following ABI. Methods: A search was conducted using seven electronic databases (CINAHL, Cochrane, EMBASE, ERIC, HealthSTAR, MEDLINE, PsycINFO) and key resources were manually reviewed. Publications selected for inclusion had a sample of clinicians and/or educators who worked with children/youth with ABI and focused on hospital-to-school transition processes from the professionals’ perspectives. Results: The initial search returned 4761 publications. Of those, 10 met the inclusion criteria. Six main themes emerged across those publications. Three related to transition barriers: (1) lack of training and education regarding transition processes; (2) lack of communication between stakeholders; and (3) lack of preparation for transition. The remaining three presented items that both facilitate and/or impede the transition process: (4) supports available; (5) linking agents; and (6) policies and procedures guiding transition. Conclusions: Clinicians and educators called for collaboration and communication to support students’ transition back to school. Further inquiry into designated linking agents and policies that facilitate hospital-to-school transitions for students following ABI may address these lacking areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Primary objective: To conduct a systems analysis on community and health services for individuals with acquired brain injury (ABI) in the province of Ontario, Canada. Research design: This study employed a triangulation design. This design is used when there is a need to validate quantitative results with qualitative data, as is the case in the present study. Methods and procedures: Forty-two healthcare professionals and/or healthcare administrators from organizations across the province and across the continuum of care were surveyed. A 1-day focus group was also held to validate the study findings. Main outcomes and results: The main results of this study revealed: (1) a lack of services for children/adolescents; (2) service gaps for individuals with co-existing mental health conditions; (3) a lack of services related to employment; (4) changes in casemix, in terms of more individuals with co-morbid medical and mental health conditions (with many of the organizations reporting medical instability and severe behavioural disorders as exclusion criteria); and (5) a need for more organizations to track patient outcomes for evaluation and/or accountability purposes. Conclusions: Findings from this study will lead to improvement of current services but also improved planning of future services for individuals with ABI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Primary objective: To explore the barriers and enablers surrounding the transition from health care to home community settings for Aboriginal clients recovering from acquired brain injuries (ABI) in northwestern Ontario. Research design: Participatory research design using qualitative methods. Methods: Focus groups conducted with clients with ABI, their caregivers and hospital and community health-care workers. The Framework Method of analysis was used to uncover emerging themes. Findings: Six main categories emerged: ABI diagnosis accuracy, acute service delivery and hospital care, transition from hospital to homecare services, transition from hospital to community services, participant suggestions to improve service delivery and transition, and views on traditional healing methods during recovery. Discussion: A lack of awareness, education and resources were acknowledged as key challenges to successful transitioning by clients and healthcare providers. Geographical isolation of the communities was highlighted as a barrier to accessibility of services and programmes, but the community was also regarded as an important source of social support. The development of educational and screening tools and needs assessments of remote communities were identified to be strategies that may improve transitions. Conclusions: Findings demonstrate that the structure of rehabilitation and discharge processes for Aboriginal clients living on reserves or in remote communities are of great concern and warrants further research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]