Domains of a TBI minimal data set: community reintegration phase

Efforts to establish a minimal data set for the period of community integration after traumatic brain injury (TBI) have been the focus of a working group of leading researchers, clinicians and advocates attending the Galveston Brain Injury Symposium in 2001 and 2002. The purpose of the data set is to increase the consistency and interpretability of TBI research and programme evaluation by providing a common set of measures to document key aspects of community integration. It is intended to be sensitive to intervention, comprehensive, reflect satisfaction and outcome and promote future treatment/therapy. In deciding on the components of a minimal data set, the tri-partite model of outcomes was adopted (initially employed in psychotherapy, adapted to TBI) which focuses on the needs of the individual, society and the health provider. Scales are recommended for the respective components of the model.