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.
Health Administration and Groupe de recherche interdisciplinaire en santé, School of Rehabilitation, Faculty of Medicine, University of Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Isabelle.gagnon6@sympatico.ca
Isabelle
I
Gagnon
Bonnie
B
Swaine
Robert
R
Forget
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