title: Cognitive Rest: An Integrated Literature Review.
abstract: Cognitive rest has been suggested as a treatment for school athletes who have sustained a concussion, but the concept has rarely been defined. The purpose of this article is to provide a comprehensive definition of cognitive rest, based on an integrative literature review. The method of synthesis was guided by Avant and Walker's concept analysis format. The importance of rest is discussed as a nursing intervention, and model cases are presented to clarify the concept. Three defining attributes of cognitive rest are established: freedom from physical or mental discomfort, abstinence from mental exertion, and mental and emotional balance. Empirical referents are given as well as a suggested protocol to enable school nurses to form cognitive rest and return-to-classroom protocols that can be adapted to individual school settings.
authors.affiliation: Austin Community College, Austin, TX, USA The University of Texas at Tyler, Tyler, TX, USA k_schneider@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Kathleen H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Schneider
mesh_terms: D056352:Athletes / Q000523:psychology; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D001924:Brain Concussion / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D003071:Cognition; D006801:Humans; D012146:Rest / Q000523:psychology*; D012573:School Nursing / Q000379:methods
keywords: accommodations; cognitive rest; concussion; head injury; integrated literature review; return-to-learning