title: Screening for mild traumatic brain injury in OEF-OIF deployed US military: an empirical assessment of VHA's experience.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  VHA screens for traumatic brain injury (TBI) among patients formerly deployed to Afghanistan or Iraq, referring those who screen positive for a Comprehensive TBI Evaluation (CTBIE).
  
  
  METHODS
  To assess the programme, rates were calculated of positive screens for potential TBI in the population of patients screened in VHA between October 2007 through March 2009. Rates were derived of TBI confirmed by comprehensive evaluations from October 2008 through July 2009. Patient characteristics were obtained from Department of Defense and VHA administrative data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the study population, 21.6% screened positive for potential TBI and 54.6% of these had electronic records of a CTBIE. Of those with CTBIE records, evaluators confirmed TBI in 57.7%, yielding a best estimate that 6.8% of all those screened were confirmed to have TBI. Three quarters of all screened patients and virtually all those evaluated (whether TBI was confirmed or not) had VHA care the following year.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  VHA's TBI screening process is inclusive and has utility in referring patients with current symptoms to appropriate care. More than 90% of those evaluated received further VHA care and confirmatory evaluations were associated with significantly higher average utilization. Generalizability is limited to those who seek VHA healthcare.
authors: VA Boston Healthcare System , Boston, MA 02130, USA. ahendricksphd@gmail.com
authors: Ann M
authors: AM
authors: Hendricks
authors: Jomana
authors: J
authors: Amara
authors: Errol
authors: E
authors: Baker
authors: Martin P
authors: MP
authors: Charns
authors: John A
authors: JA
authors: Gardner
authors: Katherine M
authors: KM
authors: Iverson
authors: Rachel
authors: R
authors: Kimerling
authors: Maxine
authors: M
authors: Krengel
authors: Mark
authors: M
authors: Meterko
authors: Terri K
authors: TK
authors: Pogoda
authors: Kelly L
authors: KL
authors: Stolzmann
authors: Henry L
authors: HL
authors: Lew
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D055826:Afghan Campaign 2001-; D001753:Blast Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D036262:Empirical Research; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D054542:Iraq War, 2003-2011; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D008889:Military Personnel; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014493:United States Department of Veterans Affairs; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D014950:Wounds, Penetrating / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology