Service utilization following traumatic brain injury.
OBJECTIVE
To document service utilization by people with a traumatic brain injury at different times postinjury and to identify factors that predict service use.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study design. Four groups of subjects were randomly selected from a regional database, according to their time postinjury: 6-18 months; 2-4 years; 6-9 years; and 10-17 years.


METHODS
A total of 119 adults with a traumatic brain injury (TBI).


METHODS
Hospital and community-based clients in Sydney, Australia.


METHODS
Glasgow Outcome Scale, Disability Rating Scale; Functional Independence Measure; Lidcombe Psychosocial Disability Scale; number, type, and frequency of services used in the previous 12 months.


RESULTS
Subjects in all four groups used a variety of services. The mean number of services used was 4.2, and there was only a moderate decline in service use over time. The use of medical and allied health services remained high in all four groups. Severity of injury, physical and cognitive disability, and psychosocial disability were all predictors of service utilization. Psychosocial disability was strongly associated with ongoing service utilization.


CONCLUSIONS
In this study, people with TBI used services well beyond the early stage of recovery. Psychosocial disability may be a better predictor of service use than physical and cognitive disability alone.
Hodgkinson
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A
Unit Director, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Brain Injury Rehabilitation Unit, Liverpool Health Service, Liverpool NSW, Australia.
Veerabangsa
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A
Drane
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D
McCluskey
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A
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000628:therapy*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006233:Persons with Disabilities; D005260:Female; D005544:Forecasting; D023261:Glasgow Outcome Scale; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006296:Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D008297:Male; D020380:Needs Assessment; D009517:New South Wales; D012044:Regression Analysis; D013997:Time Factors