Community integration status 4 years after traumatic brain injury: participant-proxy agreement.
OBJECTIVE
To measure the level of agreement on community integration outcomes 4 years after traumatic brain injury (TBI) in relation to injury severity, proxy-participant relationship, and type of question.


METHODS
Thirty-one survivors of TBI (14 with mild TBI and 17 with moderate-severe TBI) and 31 significant other proxies.


METHODS
General and leisure activity scales of the Katz Adjustment Scale (KAS).


RESULTS
Agreement was highest between proxies and participants with mild versus moderate-severe TBIs, between spouse proxies and TBI participants compared to nonspouse proxies and on the more objective subscales (frequency of participation) compared to the expectation and satisfaction scales regardless of injury severity or proxy-participant relationship.


CONCLUSIONS
For research purposes, proxy data are acceptable but clinicians should assess outcomes and set goals with input from both persons with TBIs and their proxies.
Dawson
Deirdre R
DR
Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. ddawson@klaru-baycrest.on.ca
Markowitz
Michelle
M
Stuss
Donald T
DT
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance; D011379:Prognosis; D019727:Proxy; D018570:Risk Assessment; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile; D012917:Social Adjustment; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome