Self-reported symptoms during post-mild traumatic brain injury in acute phase: influence of interviewing method

To examine the role played by two interviewing methods used in the evaluation of acute self-reported symptoms after a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI).

A cohort of 354 mTBI-adult participants was recruited over a period of 36 months in emergency rooms of five Canadian trauma hospitals. Participants were contacted by phone at the first and fourth week and at the third month following their mTBI in order to evaluate their symptoms. First, with the 'spontaneous' method, they freely identified those symptoms. Secondly, with the 'suggested' method, they identified their symptoms according to a standardized checklist made-up of the most common post-mTBI symptoms (Rivermead Post-Concussion Symptoms Questionnaire).

Globally, results showed a significant interaction effect between the interviewing method and measurement times of the symptoms. Participants reported significantly more symptoms with the suggested method compared to the spontaneous method for each measurement time. On the other hand, they reported significantly fewer symptoms from the first week to the third month of evaluation for either interviewing method. Moreover, the types of symptoms reported for both interviewing methods were different.

The interviewing method used influences number and type of self-reported symptoms during the first 3 months post-mTBI.