Follow-up visits after a concussion in the pediatric population: An integrative review
Scott Ramsay1,2, V Susan Dahinten1, Manon Ranger1,2
1School of Nursing, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
Insights
Pediatric concussion follow-up care varies significantly. Injury, individual, and health service factors influence attendance, but timing of these crucial visits remains unclear for children and youth.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric neurology
- Sports medicine
- Public health
Background:
- Concussions pose a significant health challenge for children and adolescents.
- Post-concussion follow-up visits are critical for reassessment, ongoing management, and patient education.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review and analyze existing literature on follow-up visits for pediatric concussions.
- To identify factors associated with children and youth attending these follow-up appointments.
Main Methods:
- An integrative review methodology was employed, guided by Whittemore and Knafl's framework.
- Comprehensive literature searches were conducted across major databases: PubMed, MEDLINE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and Google Scholar.
Main Results:
- Twenty-four articles were synthesized, revealing wide variations in follow-up visit rates (13.2%–99.5%).
- Timing of the first follow-up visit was reported in only eight studies.
- Factors influencing follow-up attendance were categorized into injury-related, individual, and health service domains.
Conclusions:
- Pediatric concussion follow-up care exhibits inconsistent rates, with limited data on visit timing.
- Multiple factors, encompassing injury, individual, and health service aspects, are linked to initial follow-up attendance.
- Further research is essential to understand and optimize concussion follow-up care in pediatric populations.
Background:
Concussions are a significant health issue for children and youth. After a concussion diagnosis, follow-up visits with a health care provider are important for reassessment, continued management, and further education.
Objective:
This review aimed to synthesize and analyse the current state of the literature on follow-up visits of children with a concussive injury and examine the factors associated with follow-up visits.
Methods:
An integrative review was conducted based on Whittemore and Knafl's framework. Databases searched included PubMed, MEDLINE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and Google Scholar.
Results:
Twenty-four articles were reviewed. We identified follow-up visit rates, timing to a first follow-up visit, and factors associated with follow-up visits as common themes. Follow-up visit rates ranged widely, from 13.2 to 99.5%, but time to the first follow-up visit was only reported in eight studies. Three types of factors were associated with attending a follow-up visit: injury-related factors, individual factors, and health service factors.
Conclusion:
Concussed children and youth have varying rates of follow-up care after an initial concussion diagnosis, with little known about the timing of this visit. Diverse factors are associated with the first follow-up visit. Further research on follow-up visits after a concussion in this population is warranted.
More Related Videos
10:31A Multi-Modal Approach to Assessing Recovery in Youth Athletes Following Concussion
Published on: September 25, 2014
05:48Autonomic Function Following Concussion in Youth Athletes: An Exploration of Heart Rate Variability Using 24-hour Recording Methodology
Published on: September 21, 2018
