The Journal of head trauma rehabilitation
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J Head Trauma Rehabil · May 2003
Comparative StudyReliability of ratings on the Glasgow Outcome Scales from in-person and telephone structured interviews.
To determine test-retest reliability and interrater reliability for structured interviews for the Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) using in-person and telephone contact. ⋯ The findings indicate good test-retest and interrater reliability for the structured interviews. In most circumstances a structured interview over the telephone can provide a reliable assessment of the GOS, and can safely be substituted for in person contact.
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J Head Trauma Rehabil · May 2003
Comparative StudyIncidence, characteristics, and predictive factors for Dysphagia after pediatric traumatic brain injury.
(1) To establish an incidence figure for dysphagia in a population of pediatric traumatic brain injury (TBI) cases; (2) to provide descriptive data on the admitting characteristics, patterns of resolution, and outcomes of children with and without dysphagia after TBI; and (3) to identify any factors present at admission that may predict dysphagia. ⋯ The provision of incidence data and predictive factors for dysphagia will enable clinicians in acute care settings to allocate resources necessary to deal with the predicted number of dysphagia cases in a pediatric population, and assist in predicting patients who are at risk for dysphagia following TBI. Early detection of patients with swallowing dysfunction will be aided by these data, in turn helping to facilitate effective medical and speech pathology intervention via assisting the reduction of medical complications such as aspiration pneumonia.