The characteristics of patients who do not seek medical treatment for traumatic brain injury.
OBJECTIVE
To identify factors associated with not seeking medical care for traumatic brain injury (TBI).


METHODS
Internet survey.


METHODS
The survey consisted of 17 questions related to demographics, TBI case ascertainment, location and mechanism of injury, type of treatment sought, and post-concussive (PC) symptoms. Logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with not seeking medical care.


RESULTS
Of the 1381 survey respondents with TBI, 584 (42%) did not seek medical care. TBI respondents were less likely to seek care if they were older (OR 0.98, 95% CI 0.97-0.99), suffered a mild TBI grade 2/3 (OR 0.42, 95% CI 0.31-0.58), or were injured in the home (OR 0.53, 95% CI 0.36-0.78).


CONCLUSIONS
Several factors associated with not seeking medical care after TBI were identified. Raising public awareness of the signs and symptoms of TBI, and the benefits of medical care, could help increase the number of TBI patients who seek medical care.
Setnik
Lon
L
The Elliot Hospital, Manchester, NH, USA.
Bazarian
Jeffrey J
JJ
D000061:Accidents, Home / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008875:Middle Aged; D009518:New York / Q000453:epidemiology; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D038223:Post-Concussion Syndrome / Q000209:etiology; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D015599:Trauma Severity Indices; D014474:Unconsciousness / Q000209:etiology