Community integration and health-related quality-of-life following acquired brain injury for persons living at home.

Primary Objective: To study predictors of community integration (CI) and health-related quality-of-life (HRQoL) in a sample of Canadian adult, urban, multi-ethnic persons with acquired brain injury (ABI) receiving publicly-funded community services. Hypothesis 1 examined the predictive utility of age, ratings of disability, functioning and cognition for CI and HRQoL. Hypothesis 2 examined the correlation between CI and HRQoL.

Participation in a social and recreational day programme increases community integration and reduces family burden of persons with acquired brain injury.

Primary Objective: To describe and evaluate a new day programme for persons living with an acquired brain injury (ABI), including persons exhibiting challenging behaviours. Activities were designed to reduce participants' social isolation, increase participation in community activities and increase social and leisure skills. It was expected that community integration would increase and challenging behaviours and family burden would decrease for day programme participants.

Differential profiles for patients with traumatic and non-traumatic brain injury.

Objective: To profile the demographic, clinical and environmental characteristics of persons with acquired brain injury receiving inpatient rehabilitation services in Canada.

Design: This study utilizes data from the Canadian Institute for Health Information's National Rehabilitation Reporting System, between April 2001 and March 2006. The data were collected from publicly insured institutions providing inpatient rehabilitation across Canada.

Who waits for inpatient rehabilitation services in Canada after neurotrauma? A population based-study.

Objective: This study examined characteristics of patients with acquired brain injury associated with wait times for inpatient rehabilitation compared with a control population of patients with acquired spinal cord injury.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was based on 9458 patients captured in the National Rehabilitation Reporting System in Canada.

Results: Waiting for inpatient rehabilitation was found to be associated with language, geographical location, informal support, pre-admission living arrangement and payer source.

Family caregivers' support needs after brain injury: a synthesis of perspectives from caregivers, programs, and researchers.

There is a dearth of support for family members who assume caregiving responsibilities following acquired brain injury (ABI). This qualitative study broadens the understanding of ABI caregiver support needs through data triangulation from multiple interview sources across different settings. Thirty-nine caregivers across urban and rural settings in Ontario participated in focus groups.

Positioning the optometric practice in the eye care market.

Appropriate marketing is essential as optometric practices continue to grow as providers of eye and vision care.