Community-based interventions for adolescents following traumatic brain injury: A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Chronic impairment following childhood traumatic brain injury has the potential to increase risk of negative outcomes. This highlights potential value in community-based rehabilitation programs.

OBJECTIVES: To identify research studies examining existing intervention programmes available in community-based rehabilitation to adolescents following TBI to assist with the transition back into the community.

METHODS: A systematic review of community-based interventions was conducted across different national contexts. All included studies involved a clinical population with TBI, aged 11 to 25 years inclusive. Risk of bias was rated for each included study.

RESULTS: Seventeen studies were identified for inclusion in the review, of these eleven distinct interventions were found. The quality of evidence was largely weak and highly variable.

CONCLUSION: The results suggest some improvement in adolescent outcomes following community-based interventions, however higher quality evidence is needed to support specific interventions.