Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 21, 2026
Assessing Changes in Synaptic Plasticity Using an Awake Closed-Head Injury Model of Mild Traumatic Brain Injury
Published on: January 20, 2023
Healthcare utilization in the first year after pediatric traumatic brain injury in an insured population
Heather T Keenan1, Nancy A Murphy, Russ Staheli
1Department of Pediatrics, University of Utah (Drs Keenan and Murphy) and Intermountain Healthcare (Mr Staheli and Dr Savitz), Salt Lake City, Utah.
Insights
Children with traumatic brain injury (TBI) use more outpatient care but not more primary pediatric visits. Many older children with TBI do not see a pediatrician, challenging post-injury care systems.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric healthcare utilization
- Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) research
- Child health services research
Background:
- Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a significant public health concern in children.
- Understanding healthcare access after pediatric TBI is crucial for effective management.
- Primary care is essential for monitoring recovery and development post-TBI.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare healthcare utilization in the year following injury among children with and without TBI.
- To determine if children with TBI access primary care services.
- To identify patterns of healthcare use after pediatric TBI.
Main Methods:
- Study included children aged 0-15 years with TBI (N=545) and matched uninjured controls (N=2310).
- Data were sourced from a full benefits healthcare plan between 2000-2007.
- Mean annual healthcare utilization was analyzed.
Main Results:
- Children with TBI had higher mean annual outpatient visits (4.2 vs. 3.5, P=.001).
- Mean annual general pediatric visits were similar between groups (2.7 vs. 2.8, P=.3).
- Approximately 50% of children over 7 with intracranial injury did not attend a general pediatric visit.
Conclusions:
- Children with TBI and comprehensive insurance do not routinely access primary care post-injury.
- The findings highlight challenges in developing effective screening systems for children after TBI.
- Improved strategies are needed to ensure adequate primary care follow-up for pediatric TBI survivors.
Objective:
To compare the healthcare use by children with and without a traumatic brain injury (TBI) in the year following injury to understand whether children access primary care.
Participants:
Children 0 to 15 years with a TBI (N = 545) and (N = 2310) uninjured age and sex-matched comparisons.
Setting:
A full benefits healthcare plan from 2000 to 2007.
Main Measures:
Mean annual healthcare utilization.
Results:
Children with TBI had higher mean annual outpatient visits (4.2 vs. 3.5, P = .001), but similar mean annual general pediatric visits (2.7 vs. 2.8, P = .3) than comparison children. More cases than comparisons attended a general pediatric visit (80.0% vs. 73.3%, risk ratio = 1.1, 95% CI: 1.0-1.1). However, approximately 50% of children older than 7 years who had an intracranial injury did not attend a general pediatric visit and those were slightly more likely to receive specialty care (adjusted risk ratio = 1.1, 95% CI: 1.0-1.2). These children did not appear to be substituting specialty for primary care.
Conclusions:
Children with a full benefits insurance plan do not access primary care routinely after TBI. These findings present a challenge for designing a system to screen children after TBI.
More Related Videos
05:01Murine Model of Controlled Cortical Impact for the Induction of Traumatic Brain Injury
Published on: August 16, 2019
07:02An Investigation of the Effects of Sports-related Concussion in Youth Using Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging and the Head Impact Telemetry System
Published on: January 12, 2011
