Questionnaires may have advantages over interviews for assessing TBI outcomes

Questionnaires can be used to evaluate global performance in the aftermath of traumatic brain injury and can provide significant practical benefits compared to interviews, according to the results of a group study published in JAMA Network Open.

“Personal clinical interviews are a standard way to gather information about the limitations and problems in daily life after TB, but these involve a lot of time and effort for clinical staff. Lindsay Wilson, Ph.D., Written by the Department of Psychology and colleagues at Stirling University in the UK. The study found that in many cases, completed questionnaires by the patient or caregiver can provide the same information as the results of an interview. The use of questionnaires can be used to conduct large-scale research on topics with limited financial support and to follow up on regular issues with specific manpower.

Wilson and colleagues sought to evaluate the agreement between interview and interview formats to evaluate TBI outcomes and determine the benefits of the interview. Between December 2014 and December 2017, the European Neurotrama Effectiveness Research Unit analyzed data on participants in the TB-Central (TB) project. Includes patients with clinical signs of TB who are 16 years of age and older, with outcome assessments. Both interviews and interviews within 3 months and 6 months after the injury. The severity of it all served as a risk factor for TBI. Researchers obtained a central point by comparing the ratings on the Glasgow Score-Extended (GOSE) as a structured interview with a survey of patients or caregivers. As a secondary outcome, Wilson and colleagues compared the different GOSE assessment components and the relationship between GOSE levels and baseline factors as well as patient reported mental health, health-related quality of life and TB symptoms.

A total of 994 CENTER-TBI participants completed both GOSE assessment formats from TB (65.8% males, middle age, 53 years) and 628 participants completed the forms in 6 months (65.1% males, middle age, 51 years). Researchers have shown a high degree of agreement between the two evaluation methods at 3 months and 6 months. They report good item-level agreement between the two methods for intermediate agreement on practical matters, including freedom-related parts and interactions and symbols in everyday activities. Interviews recorded many problems with job interviews, limitations on social and leisure activities, and additional indications. In some cases, interviewers are classified according to the judgment rather than on the terms of the interview results, especially for patients with poor TB score. However, the correlations between baseline factors and patient reported outcomes had the same strengths in both formats.

Wilson said: “There is evidence that people with mild TB disease may suffer from long-term complications, but these patients usually do not have any contact after emergency treatment. “Questions provide a simple and effective diagnostic method for future problems in everyday life and help target further monitoring and appropriate support.”