title: A nurse-led paediatric head injury follow-up service.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to describe a nurse-led follow-up service, duration of children's late head injury symptoms and parent/child informational needs.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in children. In Sweden; 7200 children and adolescents are hospitalized every year because of head trauma, and 90% of all head traumas are considered a mild head injury. Although the head injury may be mild, 5-15% of children report sequelae (headache, dizziness, fatigue or memory problems), and the need for a follow-up service has been proposed several times.
  
  
  METHODS
  An empirical descriptive study of a nurse-led follow-up service to improve the quality of care among children with mild-to-moderate head injuries. The data were collected in the period 2003-2005 at a Swedish University Hospital.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In total, 149 children (mean age: 9.3 years) received the follow-up service. In 92% of cases, one follow-up visit was performed. Eight per cent needed several visits to ensure symptom resolution. Ninety-one per cent of all children described late symptoms [headache (75%) and tiredness (74%)] at the follow-up visits. The mean symptom duration was 5 weeks. However, 18% of the children reported long-lasting symptoms for 8 weeks, and 16 children (10%) reported long-lasting symptoms beyond 3 months postinjury.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  An early follow-up service with the aim of meeting the family's needs and reducing any negative impact after a childhood head injury could minimize long-lasting complications for both parents and children.
authors.affiliation: Department of woman and child health, Neuropediatric research unit, Karolinska Institutet, Astrid Lindgren Children's Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden. ann-charlotte.falk@karolinska.se
authors.forename: Ann-Charlotte
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Falk
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006259:Craniocerebral Trauma / Q000451:nursing* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D010372:Pediatrics; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013548:Sweden