Using activity diaries to measure children's and adolescents' compliance with activity restrictions after mild traumatic brain injury.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the extent to which children and adolescents with a mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI) comply with the activity restrictions received upon discharge from a pediatric trauma center.


METHODS
Thirty-four children with MTBI (aged 8-16 years) and 34 control children matched for age, sex, and premorbid level of physical activity.


METHODS
Activity diary documenting the exact level of activity during 3 consecutive days during the 1st, 4th, and 12th week post-MTBI (corresponding time intervals for controls) and the Physical Activity Questionnaire.


RESULTS
Fifteen pairs of children (MTBI + control) completed the diaries for all 3 assessment times (77% participation rate among consecutive admissions and 44% compliance rate with diary completion). Although some children engaged in activities before the end of the 4-week restriction period, the majority of the children followed the recommendations they received. Children with MTBI maintained a lower level of energy expenditure at the 1- and 4-week evaluations than did the noninjured children, but not at the 12-week evaluation.


CONCLUSIONS
Children with MTBI usually comply with the activity restrictions they receive upon discharge from the hospital.
Gagnon
Isabelle
I
Health Administration and Groupe de recherche interdisciplinaire en santé, School of Rehabilitation, Faculty of Medicine, University of Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Isabelle.gagnon6@sympatico.ca
Swaine
Bonnie
B
Forget
Robert
R
D000293:Adolescent; D001924:Brain Concussion / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008499:Medical Records; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000523:psychology*; D010351:Patient Discharge; D038223:Post-Concussion Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011792:Quebec; D012146:Rest / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014193:Trauma Centers