Quality of life in children with acquired brain injury: parent perspectives 1-5 years after injury.
OBJECTIVE
To obtain parental ratings of children's quality of life, cognitive, emotional and behavioural functioning, as well as ratings of service provision, following traumatic brain injury (TBI).


METHODS
A retrospective, cross-sectional study.


METHODS
Parents of 47 children with mild or moderate-severe TBI completed standardized questionnaires evaluating quality of life (PedsQL 4.0) and cognitive, emotional and behavioural functioning (Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire). Data collected was compared with published normative data for these scales. Views regarding parental experiences of care and their ratings of service provision were also obtained.


RESULTS
Quality of life was significantly lower in 13-times as many children with TBI than expected from the normative population. Parents reported that more than 43% of children with TBI had cognitive, emotional and behavioural difficulties that impacted on their daily life. Whilst high levels of social deprivation were found, this did not fully explain the significantly raised levels of difficulties. Another factor associated with this poor outcome was the absence of systematic, routine follow-up or intervention.


CONCLUSIONS
Parents frequently reported poor quality of life and cognitive, emotional and behavioural problems in their children following TBI. These preliminary findings indicate that children, after TBI, are at risk of developing persistent clinical problems and require follow-up beyond the acute period of their recovery.
Limond
Jenny
J
Psychological Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK.
Dorris
Liam
L
McMillan
Thomas M
TM
D000293:Adolescent; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020380:Needs Assessment; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors