A nurse-led paediatric head injury follow-up service
1Department of woman and child health, Neuropediatric research unit, Karolinska Institutet, Astrid Lindgren Children's Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden. ann-charlotte.falk@karolinska.se
Insights
A nurse-led follow-up service can help children experiencing late symptoms after a mild head injury. Early intervention and support are crucial for minimizing long-lasting complications and addressing family needs following pediatric head trauma.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric neurology
- Trauma care
- Nursing services
Background:
- Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a significant cause of childhood morbidity.
- 90% of 7200 annual pediatric head traumas in Sweden are mild, yet 5-15% result in sequelae.
- A need for dedicated follow-up services for pediatric head injuries has been identified.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe a nurse-led follow-up service for children with mild-to-moderate head injuries.
- To determine the duration of late head injury symptoms in children.
- To assess parent and child informational needs post-head injury.
Main Methods:
- An empirical descriptive study was conducted.
- A nurse-led follow-up service was implemented.
- Data were collected from 2003-2005 at a Swedish University Hospital.
Main Results:
- 149 children received follow-up care, with 92% requiring one visit.
- Late symptoms like headache (75%) and tiredness (74%) were reported by 91% of children.
- Mean symptom duration was 5 weeks, with 10% experiencing symptoms beyond 3 months.
Conclusions:
- An early follow-up service can meet family needs after childhood head injury.
- Proactive care may minimize long-lasting complications for children and parents.
- Nurse-led interventions are vital for improving care quality post-pediatric head trauma.
Aim:
The aim of this study was to describe a nurse-led follow-up service, duration of children's late head injury symptoms and parent/child informational needs.
Background:
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in children. In Sweden; 7200 children and adolescents are hospitalized every year because of head trauma, and 90% of all head traumas are considered a mild head injury. Although the head injury may be mild, 5-15% of children report sequelae (headache, dizziness, fatigue or memory problems), and the need for a follow-up service has been proposed several times.
Methods/Design:
An empirical descriptive study of a nurse-led follow-up service to improve the quality of care among children with mild-to-moderate head injuries. The data were collected in the period 2003-2005 at a Swedish University Hospital.
Findings:
In total, 149 children (mean age: 9.3 years) received the follow-up service. In 92% of cases, one follow-up visit was performed. Eight per cent needed several visits to ensure symptom resolution. Ninety-one per cent of all children described late symptoms [headache (75%) and tiredness (74%)] at the follow-up visits. The mean symptom duration was 5 weeks. However, 18% of the children reported long-lasting symptoms for 8 weeks, and 16 children (10%) reported long-lasting symptoms beyond 3 months postinjury.
Conclusion:
An early follow-up service with the aim of meeting the family's needs and reducing any negative impact after a childhood head injury could minimize long-lasting complications for both parents and children.
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