Citation

Divita C, George S, Barr CJ. Brain Inj. 2017; 31(13-14): 1840-1845.

Affiliation

Rehabilitation Aged and Extended Care , Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Flinders University , Adelaide , Australia.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2017, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/02699052.2017.1346288

PMID

28829629

Abstract

PRIMARY OBJECTIVE: To investigate if patients with traumatic brain injury, who are discharged to the community before emergence from post-traumatic amnesia (PTA), experience more adverse outcomes than those discharged after emergence from PTA. RESEARCH DESIGN: A retrospective review of previously collected data and medical records.

METHODS AND PROCEDURES: Occurrences of adverse events including hospital readmissions, disengagement from follow-up services, non-compliance with discharge precautions, support system breakdown or undue carer strain at the post-discharge clinic review were recorded. The Glasgow Outcome Scale - Extended (GOS-E) and Supervision Rating Scale (SRS) were completed, retrospectively. Twenty-seven patients discharged to the community, prior to emergence from PTA, were compared to 20 patients discharged within seven days of emergence from PTA. MAIN OUTCOMES AND RESULTS: Patients discharged prior to emergence from PTA did not experience an increase in adverse outcomes and showed a higher level of engagement in follow-up services (p = 0.015). There was no difference between groups in the improvements from discharge to clinic review on the GOS-E (p = 0.113) and SRS (p = 0.165).

CONCLUSIONS: Patients can be discharged prior to emergence from PTA, if all other discharge criteria have been met, without an increase in adverse outcomes.

Language: en

Keywords

Brain injury; discharge outcomes; post-traumatic amnesia