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Early community outreach intervention in children with acquired brain injury
I Emanuelson1, L V Wendt, I Hagberg
1Regional Paediatric Rehabilitation Centre, Queen Silvia Children's Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden. ingrid.emanuelson@vgregion.se
Insights
This study found that a multidisciplinary community outreach program for acquired brain injury (ABI) patients showed modest costs and improved motor function. The intervention enhanced support and promoted local service involvement.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Rehabilitation Medicine
- Health Economics
Background:
- Acquired brain injury (ABI) presents significant challenges for patients and healthcare systems.
- Effective community-based interventions are crucial for long-term recovery and integration.
- Evaluating the cost-effectiveness of multidisciplinary outreach is essential for resource allocation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the costs and effectiveness of a multidisciplinary community outreach intervention for acquired brain injury patients.
- To assess functional, cognitive, and motor outcomes following the intervention.
- To compare program costs with in-patient rehabilitation estimates.
Main Methods:
- Recruitment of 10 ABI patients over 18 months in Sweden.
- Detailed functional, cognitive, and motor assessments at baseline, 6 weeks, and 12 months.
- Provision of individualized counseling and support for caregivers and school staff.
Main Results:
- Significant improvement in motor function observed at 12-month follow-up.
- No significant changes in other functional or neuropsychological measures, with mild improvements in communication and behavior.
- Program costs were relatively modest compared to shorter-term in-patient rehabilitation.
Conclusions:
- The multidisciplinary community outreach program is a cost-effective model for ABI rehabilitation.
- The intervention enhances support systems for patients, caregivers, and local services.
- Further research with larger sample sizes is warranted to confirm these findings.
Abstract:
Ten patients with acquired brain injury were recruited over an 18 month period in the south-western health care region of Sweden in order to evaluate the costs and effectiveness of a multidisciplinary community outreach intervention programme. An experienced multidisciplinary project team was involved and patients underwent detailed functional, cognitive and motor assessments following initial contact within two weeks of injury, within six weeks of injury and at a 12-month follow-up. An individualized counselling programme was also offered. Of an expected recruitment number of 50 patients (based on epidemiological and population based figures) 10 children were reached, evaluated and followed; eight patients with traumatic brain injury (five severe, two moderate and one mild), and two patients with non-traumatic brain injury (both severe). At follow-up there was a significant improvement in motor function. No significant changes were seen in other areas of functional assessment or on neuropsychological measures although there were mild improvements in communication and behaviour functions. The financial costs per patient in the programme were deemed relatively modest compared with cost estimates of shorter-term in-patient rehabilitation. Time intensive interventions included supporting caregivers and school staff and the direct and indirect patient interventions were shown to enhance support and promote active involvement of local services.
