The BrainIT network provides a more standardised and higher resolution data collection mechanism for research groups, organisations and the device industry to conduct multi-centre trials of new health care technology in patients with traumatic brain injury.
The suggested management of TBI was mainly in accordance with published guidelines, although a minor proportion of the answers deviated to some extent. The suggested order and combinations of different treatment interventions varied. Variation of treatment within the range of prescribed standards provides optimal conditions for an interesting future analysis of treatment and monitoring data as collected prospectively in a Brain IT database.
Delaying assessment until emergence from post-traumatic amnesia increases completion rates, but this practice causes variable time delays from the date of injury to testing, which can complicate the interpretation of research findings. In the current study, the performance of 105 head injury survivors on simple tests of language comprehension and attention was used to predict global outcome. It was hypothesized that 1 month performance on these measures would aid in the prediction of Disability Rating Scale (DRS) and Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) scores collected at 6 months post injury. Only raw scores on the modified Test of Complex Ideational Material accounted for a significant amount of the variance in DRS scores (4.4%) above that accounted for by age, education, Glasgow Coma Scale score, and pupil response. However, testability at 1 month post injury on all four tests consistently accounted for a larger portion of the variance in DRS scores (10.1-13.2%) and significantly improved prediction of GOS scores. Galveston Orientation and Amnesia Test scores collected at 1 month post injury accounted for substantially less variance in DRS scores (7.7-8.4%). Neuropsychological data, including the testability of patients, collected uniformly at 1 month following injury can contribute to the prediction of global outcome. (JINS, 2004, 10, 807-817.)
Much has been reported of the influence of age, affective symptoms, and satisfaction on self-ratings of health functioning, but little is known about the extent that race-based perceptions may have on influencing behavior or adjustment after a mild-to-moderate traumatic brain injury (MTBI). We investigated differences in perception of health functioning by race for mental and physical functioning using a global measure of health functioning. MTBI (n = 135) and general trauma (GT, n = 83) patients recruited from an area Level-1 trauma center at 3 months after injury were administered the Medical Outcomes Study: Short Form (SF-36), Structured Clinical Interview for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th ed.; American Psychiatric Association, 1994), Community Integration Questionnaire, Social Support Questionnaire (SSQ), Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression, and the Visual Analogue Scale of Depression. A significant interaction for Race Group (p < .01) was found on the Physical Component Scale (PCS) of the SF-36. In the MTBI group, African Americans reported worse functioning (p < .04) on the PCS scale; they perceived functioning on subscales General Health Perception (p < .02) and Physical Functioning (p < .04) to be more limited. On the SSQ, Hispanic MTBI patients reported having fewer social supports available to them (p < .05), although the race groups were comparable for satisfaction with their support. Rate of depression across groups was comparable, although subjective reporting by minority MTBI patients indicated greater depressed feelings. Differences in perception of health functioning may be related to the unique interaction created between sustaining an MTBI and variations in cultural expression of disability. Manifestations of physical difficulties may be better accepted for some cultures than having mental illness.
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