A Population-based Outcomes Study of Persons Hospitalized With Traumatic Brain Injury: Operations of the South Carolina Traumatic Brain Injury Follow-up Registry

Abstract

To describe the design and operations of the South Carolina Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Follow-up Registry.

Statewide prospective cohort study.

State of South Carolina.

2118 persons discharged from acute care hospitals after experiencing TBI.

Telephone interviews.

Service needs, alcohol and drug use, psychosocial health, health-related quality of life, functional status, symptoms of TBI, employment, global life satisfaction, and death.

Selected initial and 1-year follow-up findings concerning demographic, insurance status, income, and employment factors.

Population-based outcome studies that describe longer term problems associated with TBI, the need for services, and estimated disability could be useful to inform public policy.