Citation

Mollayeva T, Kendzerska T, Mollayeva S, Shapiro C, Colantonio A, Cassidy JD. Syst. Rev. 2013; 2(1): 57.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2013, Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group - BMC)

DOI

10.1186/2046-4053-2-57

PMID

23842583

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Despite strong indications that fatigue is the most common and debilitating symptom after traumatic brain injury, little is known about its frequency, natural history, or relationship with other factors. The current protocol outlines a strategy for systematic review that will identify, assess, and critically appraise studies that assessed predictors for fatigue and the consequences of fatigue on at least two separate time points following traumatic brain injury.Methods/design: MEDLINE, EMBASE, COCHRANE Database of Systematic Reviews, CINAHL, and PsycINFO were systematically searched for relevant peer-reviewed studies. Reference lists of eligible papers will also be searched. Inclusion criteria: all English language studies with a longitudinal design that focus on fatigue in adults with primary-impact traumatic brain injury. Exclusion criteria: studies about fatigue following brain injury due to secondary pathological processes (intracranial complications, edema, ischemia/infarction, and systemic intracranial conditions). Excluded studies, along with the reason(s) for exclusion will be reported. Two independent reviewers will conduct all levels of screening, data abstraction, and quality appraisal. Randomized control trial data will be treated as a cohort. Quality will be assessed using the criteria defined by Hayden and colleagues. The review will be conducted and reported in compliance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. CONCLUSIONS: The review will summarize the current knowledge in the field with the aim of increasing understanding and guiding future research on the associations between fatigue and clinically important factors, as well as the consequences of fatigue in traumatic brain injury. PROSPERO registry number: CRD42013004262.

Language: en