OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of family attendance at inpatient rehabilitation therapy sessions on traumatic brain injury (TBI) patient outcomes at discharge and up to 9 months post-discharge.
DESIGN: Propensity score methods are applied to the TBI-Practice-Based Evidence (TBI-PBE) database, a database consisting of multi-site, prospective, longitudinal, observational data. SETTING: 9 inpatient rehabilitation centers in the US. PARTICIPANTS: Patients (n=1835) admitted for first inpatient rehabilitation after an index TBI INTERVENTION: Family attendance during therapy sessions. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Participation Assessment for Recombined Tools-Objective-17 (Total scores and subdomain scores of Productivity, Out and About, and Social Relations), Functional Independence Measure, Satisfaction with Life Scale, and Patient Health Questionnaire-9.
RESULTS: Participants whose families were in attendance for at least 10% of the treatment time were more out and about in their communities at 3 and 9 months post-discharge than participants whose families attended treatment less than 10% of the time. While findings varied by propensity score method, improved functional independence in the cognitive area at 9 months was also associated with increased family attendance.
CONCLUSIONS: Family involvement during inpatient rehabilitation may improve community participation and cognitive functioning up to 9 months following discharge. Rehabilitation teams should engage patients' families in the rehabilitation process in order to maximize outcomes.