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Development of the traumatic brain injury Rehabilitation Needs Survey: a Veterans Affairs TBI Model Systems study

  • Marc A. Silva
  • , Jacob A. Finn
  • , Christina Dillahunt-Aspillaga
  • , Bridget A. Cotner
  • , Lillian F. Stevens
  • , Risa Nakase-Richardson

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Purpose: To describe the development of the Rehabilitation Needs Survey (RNS) for persons in the chronic phase of traumatic brain injury (TBI) recovery. Materials and methods: RNS items were generated following a literature review (January–March 2015) on the topic of rehabilitation needs and revised via consensus from an expert panel of TBI clinicians and researchers. The RNS was added to the VA TBI Model Systems longitudinal study; data collection occurred between 2015–2019. Needs were classified as current (if endorsed) or absent; if current, needs were classified as unmet if no help was received. Need frequency and association with rehabilitation outcomes were presented. Results: Eight studies examined rehabilitation needs and formed the initial item pool of 42 needs. This was reduced to form the 21-item RNS which was administered at year 1 (n = 260) and year 2 (n = 297) post-TBI. Number of needs endorsed was 8–9, and number of unmet needs was 1–2, on average. Number of needs was correlated with functional status, neurobehavioral symptoms, and mental health symptoms (p < 0.05) suggesting support for convergent validity of the RNS. Conclusion: The RNS is a new measure of rehabilitation needs following TBI. Further investigation into its psychometrics and clinical utility is recommended.Implications for rehabilitation Veterans and Service Members with traumatic brain injury across the severity spectrum have ongoing rehabilitation needs during the chronic phase of recovery. The Rehabilitation Needs Survey is a standardized measure of rehabilitation needs following traumatic brain injury. Identification of unmet rehabilitation needs is important for raising awareness of service gaps and providing justification for resource allocation.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)4474-4484
Number of pages11
JournalDisability and Rehabilitation
Volume44
Issue number16
DOIs
StatePublished - 2022

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
This research was conducted with resources and the use of facilities at the Hunter Holmes McGuire Veterans Affairs Medical Center, James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital, Minneapolis VA Health Care System, Palo Alto VA Health Care System, and South Texas Veterans Health Care System. The views expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official policy or position of the Defense Health Agency, Department of Defense, or any other U.S. government agency. This work was prepared under Contract HT0014-19-C-0004 with DHA Contracting Office (CO-NCR) HT0014 and, therefore, is defined as U.S. Government work under Title 17 U.S.C.§101. Per Title 17 U.S.C.§105, copyright protection is not available for any work of the U.S. Government. For more information, please contact [email protected] . UNCLASSIFIED

Publisher Copyright:
©, This work was authored as part of the Contributor's official duties as an Employee of the United States Government and is therefore a work of the United States Government. In accordance with 17 U.S.C. 105, no copyright protection is available for such works under U.S. Law.

Keywords

  • Brain injuries
  • health care surveys
  • health service needs and demand
  • military personnel
  • rehabilitation
  • surveys and questionnaires
  • traumatic
  • veterans
  • Humans
  • Veterans/psychology
  • Psychometrics
  • Military Personnel/psychology
  • Brain Injuries, Traumatic/rehabilitation
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Longitudinal Studies

PubMed: MeSH publication types

  • Journal Article
  • Review
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

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