title: A systematic review protocol for measuring comorbidity in inpatient rehabilitation for non-traumatic brain injury.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Comorbidity can affect health-care utilization and outcomes, and the results and interpretation of risk adjustment studies that attempt to predict rehabilitation utilization and outcomes are influenced by the choice of comorbidity measurement. Although the identification of an appropriate measurement has been conducted in some populations and outcomes, this information is currently lacking for the non-traumatic brain injury (nTBI) population in inpatient rehabilitation settings. As such, this is a systematic review protocol to survey the methods used to measure comorbidities in the rehabilitation setting for patients with nTBI.
  
  
  METHODS
  MEDLINE, MEDLINE In-Process, Embase, The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, PsycINFO, and Health and Psychosocial Instruments will be systematically searched using the concepts 'nTBI,' 'comorbidity,' and 'rehabilitation.' Grey matters and the reference list of eligible articles will also be searched. Study selection will be performed independently by two reviewers based on predetermined eligibility criteria through two rounds of screening using, first, the title and abstract, followed by full-text. Extracted information will include study purpose, design, and setting; data source and type; outcomes variables; statistical methods; comorbidity measurement method, rationale, justification, or validation; and results involving comorbidity. The data will be tabulated and narratively synthesized. Meta-analyses will be performed if appropriate.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  This protocol has not been registered with PROSPERO.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This protocol provides a systematic method for surveying current practice as well as monitoring the progress on comorbidity measurement methodology and effects of comorbidity on rehabilitation outcomes for patients with nTBI. The selection of an appropriate comorbidity measurement method has implications for the interpretation of both descriptive and risk adjustment studies, and thus, the validity of evidence used to inform planning and delivery of services.
authors: Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, University Health Network, 550 University Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, M5G 2A2, Canada. wayne.khuu@mail.utoronto.ca.|Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, 155 College Street, Toronto, Ontario, M5T 3 M7, Canada. wayne.khuu@mail.utoronto.ca.
authors: Wayne
authors: W
authors: Khuu
authors: Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, University Health Network, 550 University Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, M5G 2A2, Canada. vincy.chan@uhn.ca.|Rehabilitation Sciences Institute, University of Toronto, 500 University Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, M5G 1 V7, Canada. vincy.chan@uhn.ca.
authors: Vincy
authors: V
authors: Chan
authors: Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, University Health Network, 550 University Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, M5G 2A2, Canada. angela.colantonio@utoronto.ca.|Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, 155 College Street, Toronto, Ontario, M5T 3 M7, Canada. angela.colantonio@utoronto.ca.|Rehabilitation Sciences Institute, University of Toronto, 500 University Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, M5G 1 V7, Canada. angela.colantonio@utoronto.ca.
authors: Angela
authors: A
authors: Colantonio
mesh_terms: D001921:Brain; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000150:complications* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D015897:Comorbidity; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients; D012046:Rehabilitation / Q000379:methods*; D012107:Research Design; D000078202:Systematic Reviews as Topic
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