title: Effects of case management after brain injury: a systematic review.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Adults who survive traumatic brain injury (TBI) often receive case (care) management to overcome the difficulties commonly faced negotiating a number of different health and social care services and systems. Little is known about the effectiveness of a case management intervention.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To examine the effects of case management for patients with severe head injury on outcome, family function, and provision of rehabilitation services.
  
  
  METHODS
  Systematic review methodology. Electronic databases (Medline, CINAHL, Psycbite and OTSeeker) were searched up to 7/1/2013. A total of 655 articles were screened of which six met the criteria for inclusion in the review. Study quality was evaluated using the PEDro scale or AMSTAR checklist dependent on study design.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One systematic review, three controlled trials and two case series reports were appraised. There was significant clinical heterogeneity between studies and studies scored poorly on the appraisal checklists. Due to methodological limitations, there was no clear evidence of effectiveness or ineffectiveness of case management after brain injury.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Principal findings are that there is a paucity of applicable research on case management, and a need to evaluate the impact of case management on life participation outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational Therapy, La Trobe University, VIC, Australia Occupational Therapy Department, Alfred Health, VIC, Australia Rehabilitation Studies Unit, Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Natasha A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Lannin
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational Therapy, La Trobe University, VIC, Australia Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Kate
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Laver
authors.affiliation: All About Rehabilitation Pty. Ltd, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Kareena
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Henry
authors.affiliation: All About Rehabilitation Pty. Ltd, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Turnbull
authors.affiliation: All About Rehabilitation Pty. Ltd, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Megan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Elder
authors.affiliation: All About Rehabilitation Pty. Ltd, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Josephine
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Campisi
authors.affiliation: Rehabilitation Studies Unit, Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, NSW, Australia Department of Occupational Therapy, Australian Catholic University, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.affiliation: Occupational Therapy Department, Alfred Health, VIC, Australia.
authors.forename: Emma
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Schneider
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D019090:Case Management / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005195:Family Relations; D006801:Humans; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Case management; brain injuries; managed care programs; rehabilitation; review