Comparison of FIM™ communication ratings for English versus non-English speakers in the traumatic brain injury model systems (TBIMS) national database.

Authors :: Lequerica A
Krch D
Lengenfelder J
Chiaravalloti N
Arango-Lasprilla JC
Hammond FM
O'Neil-Pirozzi TM
Perrin PB
Sander AM
Source :: Brain injury [Brain Inj] 2015; Vol. 29 (12), pp. 1445-51. Date of Electronic Publication: 2015 Sep 18.
Publication Year :: 2015
Abstract: Objective: To examine the effect of primary language on admission and discharge FIM™ communication ratings in a sample of individuals with moderate-to-severe traumatic brain injury (TBI).<br />Design and Methods: Secondary data analysis of rehabilitation admission and discharge FIM™ communication ratings of 2795 individuals hospitalized at a Traumatic Brain Injury Model Systems (TBIMS) centre between 2007-2012.<br />Results: Individuals who spoke no English were rated worse on functional communication outcomes at inpatient rehabilitation discharge relative to individuals whose primary language was English.<br />Conclusions: These findings may reflect systematic bias in FIM™ communication ratings of non-English-speaking individuals with TBI and/or TBI-induced communication difficulties in non-English-speaking individuals. Clinical and research implications are discussed.

Subjects :: Adult
Bias
Brain Injuries rehabilitation
Communication
Databases, Factual statistics & numerical data
Female
Humans
Language
Length of Stay
Male
Middle Aged
Models, Biological
Patient Discharge
Recovery of Function
Rehabilitation
Treatment Outcome
Communication Barriers
Databases, Factual standards

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