Service and support needs following pediatric brain injury: perspectives of children with mild traumatic brain injury and their parents.

Objective: To provide a qualitative examination of the service and support needs of children who have had a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), and their parents, in order to improve clinical services.

Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 9 children (8-12 years; M = 10.6 years, SD = 0.8) and their parents (n = 9) 29-55 days (M = 34 days; SD = 9.3) after presenting to an Australian Paediatric Emergency Department (PED) for mTBI. Children's post-concussive symptoms (PCS) were additionally measured using the Post-Concussive Symptom Inventory (PCSI). Audio recordings were transcribed, and a thematic analysis was conducted.

Results: Post-injury needs were reflected in four main themes: Communication; Family Burden; Continuity of Care; and Social and Community Support. These themes reflected children's and parents' needs for information, emotional/social/community support, and follow-up care. Both the children's and parents' needs, and the extent to which they were met, appeared to be related to the severity and duration of the child's PCS.

Conclusions: Dedicated pediatric mTBI follow-up services that build on family's resources and meet their individual needs for information, emotional support, and referral may assist in optimizing post-injury outcomes.