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A comprehensive model of care for rehabilitation of children with acquired brain injuries
Background Acquired brain injury (ABI) is a leading cause of death and lifelong acquired disability in children and remains a significant public health issue. Deficits may only become fully apparent when developmental demands increase and once cognitive processes are expected to be fully developed....
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Published in: | Child : care, health & development health & development, 2010-01, Vol.36 (1), p.31-43 |
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Main Authors: | , , , , |
Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Subjects: | |
Citations: | Items that this one cites Items that cite this one |
Online Access: | Get full text |
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Summary: | Background Acquired brain injury (ABI) is a leading cause of death and lifelong acquired disability in children and remains a significant public health issue. Deficits may only become fully apparent when developmental demands increase and once cognitive processes are expected to be fully developed. It is therefore necessary to provide organized long‐term follow‐up for children post ABI. Despite these recommendations, it has been shown that only a small proportion of children received specialized rehabilitation and adequate follow‐up after ABI.
Aims The aims are: (i) to describe a comprehensive model of care devoted to children with acquired brain injuries; and (ii) to provide descriptive data analysing the characteristics of children followed up, the type/amount of services provided and general outcomes.
Programme description The programme features an in‐ and outpatient rehabilitation facility, where multidisciplinary rehabilitation and specialized schooling are provided. The ultimate goal of the programme is to promote each child's successful reintegration in school and in the community. Adequate preparation of discharge is essential, long‐term follow‐up is organized, and an outreach programme has been developed to deal with the complex delayed psychosocial issues.
Results Overall outcome, as measured by the Glasgow Outcome Scale, improved dramatically between admission (3.3; SD = 0.45) and discharge (2.15; SD = 0.74). Most of the children were discharged home with an adequate personalized plan for ongoing rehabilitation and school adaptations. Analysis of the outreach programme underlines the more challenging issues arising in late adolescence‐early adulthood.
Conclusion Given the specificities of childhood ABI, long‐term specific care must be organized and co‐ordinated, regardless of injury severity. |
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ISSN: | 0305-1862 1365-2214 |
DOI: | 10.1111/j.1365-2214.2009.00949.x |