RecruitingACTRN12621000771853

Characteristics of patients with a head injury that present to a single Australian tertiary emergency department.

Characteristics, patterns and functional outcomes of head injury patients presenting to a single Australian tertiary emergency department.

Sponsor

Royal North Shore Hospital

Enrollment

280 participants

Start Date

May 19, 2021

Study Type

Observational

Conditions

Traumatic Brain Injury Concussion Head Injury

Summary

It is unclear what constitutes standardised or routine head injury management whilst in the emergency department (ED). Further, ED head injury discharge processes, management and communication to patients, families and carers is often inconsistent or ad hoc. This inconsistent management of head injury both within the hospital environment and transition to home in the community may not optimise best patient outcomes. Further, how clinicians communicate the discharge plan and manage activities such as return to work/study and or resuming sporting activities needs to be explored further. In addition, patient compliance and adherence with discharge instructions is also critical for optimising the recovery trajectory, health outcomes and avoidable representations and yet little is known about patient compliance and adherence for this group. To date little is known of how concussion is managed in the community by both adults and parents whose child has experienced a head injury and is symptomatic of concussion. Therefore, this study seeks to better understand the characteristics of people that present with head injuries and symptoms of concussion to an ED and how on discharge concussion is managed in the community.

Eligibility

Sex: Both males and femalesMax Age: 30 Yearss

Plain Language Summary

Simplified for easier understanding

Head injuries — including concussion — are very common presentations to emergency departments, particularly in children and young adults. However, how clinicians manage and communicate with patients during and after the visit is often inconsistent. Some patients leave without clear instructions, and it is not well understood how people actually manage their recovery at home, including when they return to school, sport, or work. This observational study looks at the characteristics of patients presenting with head injuries to a major Sydney hospital and follows up with them after discharge to understand their recovery experience. The study has two phases: a review of medical records spanning three years, and telephone interviews with patients (or their parents) after they have been discharged from the emergency department. You may be eligible if you are under 30 years old and presented to the Royal North Shore Hospital emergency department with a head injury, were discharged home or admitted to a standard ward, and are willing to be contacted for a follow-up phone interview. Patients in critical condition or transferred to a paediatric hospital are not eligible.

This summary was AI-generated to explain the trial in plain language. It is not medical advice. Always discuss eligibility with your doctor before enrolling in a clinical trial.

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Interventions

Data that will be collated from eMR review, patient demographics, information about presentation (i.e. mechanism of injury, triage Category, observations - Glasgow Coma Score, Loss Of Consciousness, document any signs/symptoms at presentation) Telephone interview will be completed by ED research volunteers, lead researcher and associate researchers. The two follow up phone call interviews will occur at 10-14 days and four weeks from day of discharge. Interview will take approximately 7-10 minutes. Topics discussed during interview - signs/symptoms post discharge, return to usual activity (i.e sport, work, school), any further medical follow up post discharge and opportunity to discuss discharge process from ED. Phase 1: eMR retrospective data audit will commence from 1st January 2019 until 31st December 2021. Phase 2: Patient recruited for telephone interviews will commence April 2021 the last patient recruited will be 31st December 2021.