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Unmet health care needs over the first 2 years after pediatric traumatic brain injury
Hilde Margrete Dahl1, Ingvil Laberg Holthe2, Nada Andelic3
1Dept. of Clinical Neurosciences for Children, Section for Child Neurology, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway; Institute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
Insights
Children with traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) often experience lasting symptoms impacting school and social life. Unmet needs for health and educational services are common, affecting their quality of life.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric neurology
- Neurorehabilitation
- Child psychology
Background:
- Limited research exists on healthcare and educational service access for pediatric traumatic brain injury (TBI) survivors.
- Understanding the long-term symptom trajectory and service needs post-TBI is crucial for effective intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the course of symptoms in children and adolescents following TBI over two years.
- To determine if symptoms indicated a need for health care and/or educational services.
- To assess the extent of unmet needs and their association with health-related quality of life.
Main Methods:
- Prospective cohort study at Oslo University Hospital (2015-2018).
- Included 49 pediatric patients (1-15 years) hospitalized with TBI.
- Follow-up at 6 and 24 months, assessing symptoms and needs via clinical assessment, patient, and parent reports.
Main Results:
- Twenty-five percent of patients had unmet needs at 24 months post-TBI.
- These patients reported persistent cognitive and emotional symptoms impacting school and social interactions.
- Unmet needs were associated with lower health-related quality of life.
Conclusions:
- Pediatric TBI survivors can experience long-term symptom burden affecting daily functioning.
- A significant proportion face unmet needs for services, impacting their quality of life.
- Targeted health care and educational services are essential to address these long-term challenges.
Aim:
Few studies have addressed how children and adolescents with traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) access health care and educational services. This study aimed to investigate the course of symptoms during the first two years after TBI, whether symptoms implied a need for health care and/or educational services, and the extent of unmet needs. The association between unmet needs and health-related quality of life was also explored.
Methods:
This prospective cohort study was conducted at Oslo University Hospital, Norway, from 2015 to 2018. Forty-nine patients aged 1-15 years hospitalized due to TBI were included and followed for 24 months. Registration of symptoms and identification of unmet needs was based on clinical assessment, self-reports and interviews with patients and parents during the acute phase and at 6 and 24 months postinjury.
Results:
Twenty-five percent of the sample presented with unmet needs at 24 months. Compared to the group with no needs and met needs, these patients reported lasting cognitive and emotional symptoms affecting school and social interaction and scored lower on health-related quality of life.
Conclusion:
Pediatric patients with TBI may have long-term symptom burden affecting school and social functioning, leading to unmet needs if targeted services are not provided.
Related Concept Videos
01:28Traumatic Brain Injury l: Introduction
01:25Secondary Spinal Cord Injury llI: Pathophysiology