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Long-term outcomes after moderate-to-severe traumatic brain injury among military veterans: Successes and challenges.
- Source :
- Brain Injury; 2016, Vol. 30 Issue 3, p271-279, 9p
- Publication Year :
- 2016
-
Abstract
- Objective: To assess long-term outcomes after traumatic brain injury (TBI) among veterans and service members. Setting: Regional Veterans Affairs medical centre. Participants: One hundred and eighteen veterans and military personnel, aged 23–70 years (median = 35 years), 90% male, had moderate-to-severe TBI (82% in coma > 1 day, 85% amnesic > 7 days), followed by acute interdisciplinary rehabilitation 5–16 years ago (median = 8 years). Design: Cross-sectional analysis of live interviews conducted via telephone. Main measures: TBI follow-up interview (occupational, social, cognitive, neurologic and psychiatric ratings), Community Integration Questionnaire, Disability Rating Scale (four indices of independent function) and Satisfaction with Life Scale. Results: At follow-up, 52% of participants were working or attending school; 34% ended or began marriages after TBI, but the overall proportion married changed little. Finally, 22% were still moderately-to-severely disabled. However, 62% of participants judged themselves to be as satisfied or more satisfied with life than before injury. Injury severity, especially post-traumatic amnesia, was correlated with poorer outcomes in all functional domains. Conclusions: After moderate–severe TBI, most veterans assume productive roles and are satisfied with life. However, widespread difficulties and functional limitations persist. These findings suggest that veteran and military healthcare systems should continue periodic, comprehensive follow-up evaluations long after moderate-to-severe TBI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Subjects :
- BRAIN injuries
NEUROLOGIC examination
EMPLOYMENT
HEALTH status indicators
INTERVIEWING
MARITAL status
NEUROPSYCHOLOGICAL tests
VETERANS
EVALUATION of medical care
REHABILITATION of people with mental illness
PROBABILITY theory
QUALITY of life
QUESTIONNAIRES
REHABILITATION centers
RESEARCH evaluation
RESEARCH funding
SATISFACTION
SOCIAL participation
MILITARY personnel
STATISTICAL hypothesis testing
STATISTICS
VETERANS' hospitals
DATA analysis
ACTIVITIES of daily living
SOCIOECONOMIC factors
STATISTICAL reliability
EDUCATIONAL attainment
INDEPENDENT living
CROSS-sectional method
SEVERITY of illness index
REHABILITATION for brain injury patients
DESCRIPTIVE statistics
GLASGOW Coma Scale
SYMPTOMS
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 02699052
- Volume :
- 30
- Issue :
- 3
- Database :
- Complementary Index
- Journal :
- Brain Injury
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 114015372
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.3109/02699052.2015.1113567