Prognosis of six-month functioning after moderate to severe traumatic brain injury: a systematic review of prospective cohort studies.

Objective: To systematically review which determinants, assessed within the first month after a moderate to severe traumatic brain injury, predict 6-month functional outcome.

Methods: Databases were searched for relevant publications between 1995 and August 2008. Selection criteria were: prospective cohort studies; determinants associated with functional outcome 6 months after moderate to severe traumatic brain injury in adult patients; determinants assessed within the first month post-injury.

Community integration following moderate to severe traumatic brain injury: a longitudinal investigation.

Objective: To evaluate the course and identify determinants of community integration for up to 3 years following moderate to severe traumatic brain injury.

Design: Prospective cohort study.

Patients: A total of 119 moderate to severe traumatic brain injury patients aged 16-67 years.

Is there equity in long-term healthcare utilization after traumatic brain injury?

Objective: To quantify the long-term use of various types of healthcare services in patients with traumatic brain injury and to estimate the relative contribution of predisposing characteristics, enabling factors and health-related needs to determine whether there is equity in healthcare utilization.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Patients: Seventy-nine non-institutionalized moderate to severe patients with traumatic brain injury (age range 16-67 years).

Prognostic factors of long-term functioning and productivity after traumatic brain injury: a systematic review of prospective cohort studies.

Objective: To systematically review prospective cohort studies that investigated prognostic factors associated with long-term activity limitations or participation restrictions and productivity after a traumatic brain injury.

Data Sources: PubMed and Psychinfo were searched from 1995 to April 2005, and references were checked.

Review Methods: Publications were selected if the study assessed prognostic factors for activity limitations or participation restrictions at least one year post injury; outcome was measured with another or additional measure besides the Glasgow Outcome Scale; the design was a prospective cohort study of adult traumatic brain injury patients; the article was a full-text article written in English, French, German or Dutch.