title: Frequency and quality of return to study following traumatic brain injury.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the frequency and experience of return to secondary or tertiary study over a 10-year period following traumatic brain injury (TBI).
  
  
  METHODS
  A group of 295 students with moderate to severe TBI followed prospectively.
  
  
  METHODS
  Epworth HealthCare TBI outpatient rehabilitation program follow-up clinic 1 to 10 years postinjury.
  
  
  METHODS
  Frequency of return to study. Also, for a subset, changes in course enrollment, utilization of additional educational supports, and experience of return to study postinjury.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of those studying preinjury, 295 attended the follow-up clinic appointments, with 167 (56%) having returned to study. Those who did not return to study had significantly longer posttraumatic amnesia duration. The cross-sectional follow-up revealed that 60.4% were studying at 1 year postinjury, 37.5% at 2 years postinjury, 50.0% at 3 years postinjury, 31.1% at 5 years postinjury, and 2.0% at 10 years postinjury. Many had migrated into employment. A subsample of 95 participants reported on their educational experience. Of those, 28.7% changed their course enrollment from full-time to part-time. While supports such as tuition and special consideration were greatly increased postinjury, students reported the proportion of subjects passed of 79.0%. However, they experienced cognitive difficulties and fatigue and felt less satisfied with their studies.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Return to study was relatively successful; however, this was associated with the experience of fatigue and need for far greater effort, assistance and reduced study hours, and somewhat less overall satisfaction.
authors.affiliation: Monash Psychology Centre, School of Psychology & Psychiatry (Drs Willmott, Ponsford, and Downing), Monash-Epworth Rehabilitation Research Centre (Drs Willmott, Ponsford, and Downing and Ms Carty), and National Trauma Research Institute (Dr Ponsford), Monash University, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Willmott
authors.forename: Jennie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ponsford
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Downing
authors.forename: Meagan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Carty
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000193:education*; D004651:Employment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005221:Fatigue / Q000453:epidemiology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D023261:Glasgow Outcome Scale; D006801:Humans; D007508:Irritable Mood; D007859:Learning Disabilities / Q000453:epidemiology; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult