AUS-TBI: The Australian Health Informatics Approach to Predict Outcomes and Monitor Intervention Efficacy after Moderate-to-Severe Traumatic Brain Injury.

Predicting and optimizing outcomes after traumatic brain injury (TBI) remains a major challenge because of the breadth of injury characteristics and complexity of brain responses. AUS-TBI is a new Australian Government-funded initiative that aims to improve personalized care and treatment for children and adults who have sustained a TBI. The AUS-TBI team aims to address a number of key knowledge gaps, by designing an approach to bring together data describing psychosocial modulators, social determinants, clinical parameters, imaging data, biomarker profiles, and rehabilitation outcomes in order to assess the influence that they have on long-term outcome.

Development and feasibility testing of a psychoeducational tool to support the return to work (RTW) of individuals with traumatic brain injury (TBI): The RTW after TBI app.

To document the development and clinician evaluation of a psychoeducational and support tool: the return to work after traumatic brain injury app (RTW after TBI app). Co-design of the app involved the collaboration of traumatic brain injury (TBI) /vocational rehabilitation (VR) expert researchers ( = 4) and lived experience co-designers (individuals with TBI who had previously returned to work;  = 4). Twelve TBI/VR clinician reviewers then evaluated the app.

Evaluating a Novel Treatment Adapting a Cognitive Behaviour Therapy Approach for Sexuality Problems after Traumatic Brain Injury: A Single Case Design with Nonconcurrent Multiple Baselines.

There has been little progress in development of evidence-based interventions to improve sexuality outcomes for individuals with traumatic brain injury (TBI). This study aimed to evaluate the preliminary efficacy of an individualised intervention using a cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) framework to treat sexuality problems after TBI. A nonconcurrent multiple baseline single-case design with 8-week follow-up and randomisation to multiple baseline lengths (3, 4, or 6 weeks) was repeated across nine participants (five female) with complicated mild-severe TBI (mean age = 46.

Effectiveness of Pharmacotherapy for Depression after Adult Traumatic Brain Injury: an Umbrella Review.

Symptoms of depression are common following traumatic brain injury (TBI), impacting survivors' ability to return to work, participate in leisure activities, and placing strain on relationships. Depression symptoms post TBI are often managed with pharmacotherapy, however, there is little research evidence to guide clinical practice. There have been a number of recent systematic reviews examining pharmacotherapy for post TBI depression.

Effectiveness of Non-Pharmacological Interventions for Agitation during Post-Traumatic Amnesia following Traumatic Brain Injury: A Systematic Review.

Agitation is common in the early recovery period following traumatic brain injury (TBI), known as post-traumatic amnesia (PTA). Non-pharmacological interventions are frequently used to manage agitation, yet their efficacy is largely unknown. This systematic review aims to synthesize current evidence on the effectiveness of non-pharmacological interventions for agitation during PTA in adults with TBI.

The design and evaluation of a health education control for comparison with cognitive behavioural therapy for individuals with acquired brain injury.

Background: In psychological research, control conditions in the form of "treatment as usual" provide support for intervention efficacy, but do not allow the attribution of positive outcomes to the unique components of the treatment itself. Attentionally and structurally equivalent active control conditions, such as health education (HE), have been implemented in recent trials of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). However, descriptions and evaluations of these control conditions are limited.

Brain age in chronic traumatic brain injury.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is associated with greater 'brain age' that may be caused by atrophy in grey and white matter. Here, we investigated 'brain age' in a chronic TBI (≥10 years) sample. We examined whether 'brain age' increases with years post injury, and whether it is associated with injury severity, cognition and functional outcome.

Perspectives of major traumatic injury survivors on accessibility and quality of rehabilitation services in rural Australia.

Purpose: For the 30% of Australians who live in rural areas, access to rehabilitation services after sustaining a major traumatic injury can be challenging. This study aimed to explore the experience of rural major traumatic injury survivors accessing rehabilitation services.

Materials And Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 21 rural major traumatic injury survivors ( = 47.

Impact of Somatic Vulnerability, Psychosocial Robustness and Injury-Related Factors on Fatigue following Traumatic Brain Injury-A Cross-Sectional Study.

Fatigue is a common symptom after traumatic brain injuries (TBI) and a crucial target of rehabilitation. The subjective and multifactorial nature of fatigue necessitates a biopsychosocial approach in understanding the mechanisms involved in its development. The aim of this study is to provide a comprehensive exploration of factors relevant to identification and rehabilitation of fatigue following TBI.

Rehabilitation for children with chronic acquired brain injury in the Child in Context Intervention (CICI) study: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Pediatric acquired brain injury (pABI) is associated with long-term cognitive, behavioral, social, and emotional problems, which may affect the quality of life, school, and family functioning. Yet, there is a lack of evidence-based community-centered rehabilitation programs for chronic pABI and these children do not systematically receive comprehensive rehabilitation. The Child In Context Intervention (CICI) study is a pragmatic randomized controlled trial (RCT) for children with chronic pABI, which aims to evaluate the effectiveness of an individualized and goal-oriented intervention targeting everyday functioning of the child and family.

Factors associated with mental health service access among Australian community-dwelling survivors of stroke.

Purpose: To describe types of mental health treatment accessed by community-based stroke survivors and factors associated with access.

Methods: A sub-group of registrants from the Australian Stroke Clinical Registry completed a supplementary survey 2.5 years post-stroke.

"They just say how stupid I was for being conned". Cyberscams and acquired brain injury: A qualitative exploration of the lived experience of survivors and close others.

Individuals with acquired brain injury (ABI) may be vulnerable to cyberscams due to their cognitive and psychosocial impairments. However, the lived experiences of cyberscam survivors with ABI and their close others is not understood, and no effective intervention has been identified. This qualitative study aimed to explore the perspectives of cyberscam survivors with ABI ( = 7) and their close others ( = 6).

A qualitative study on the attitudes and approaches of Australian clinicians in addressing sexuality after acquired brain injury.

Purpose: Studies indicate that up to 50% of survivors of acquired brain injury (ABI) experience persistent changes in sexuality. However, research on clinicians' perspectives in addressing sexuality issues post-ABI is limited. This study explored the attitudes and approaches, barriers and facilitators, and training preferences of Australian clinicians in addressing sexuality in individuals post-ABI.

The association of padded headgear with concussion and injury risk in junior Australian football: A prospective cohort study.

Objectives: To assess whether padded headgear was associated with incidence of suspected sports-related concussion, non-sports-related concussion head injury, and injuries to other body regions in junior Australian football.

Design: Prospective cohort injury surveillance.

Methods: There were 400 junior players (42.

Micro-RNA levels and symptom profile after mild traumatic brain injury: A longitudinal cohort study.

Micro riboneucleic acids (miRNAs) may be transcribed after brain injury and be detectable in plasma. This study aimed to assess the discriminative ability of seven miRNAs in plasma to differentiate between patients with mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) and healthy controls. Changes in miRNA levels over 28 days were compared to changes in self-reported symptom profile.

Clinical perspectives on delivering a Positive Behaviour Support intervention for challenging behaviours following acquired brain injury.

Challenging behaviours are distressing sequelae for people with acquired brain injury (ABI) and their families. Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) is a collaborative approach focussing on improving quality of life for individuals with ABI presenting with challenging behaviours. This qualitative study explored clinicians' experiences of a 12-month intervention (PBS+PLUS) for adults with ABI and their family/carers.

"It's been a long hard road": challenges faced in the first three years following traumatic brain injury.

Purpose: There is limited qualitative research exploring challenges experienced following severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). We investigated challenges to recovery identified by individuals who sustained severe TBI three years earlier or their close others (COs), as well as suggestions for managing these challenges.

Materials And Methods: Nine participants with TBI and 16 COs completed semi-structured interviews.

Coping and wellbeing in families with a child with acquired brain injury compared with families in the community.

Purpose: Paediatric acquired brain injury (ABI) negatively impacts parental wellbeing and family functioning. Adaptive coping, that is behaviours promoting emotional wellbeing and addressing distressing problems, may support wellbeing and family functioning. This study compared wellbeing, coping, and family functioning between parents of a child with ABI and parents in the community, and examined coping as a predictor of wellbeing and family functioning.

Positive behaviour support for adults with acquired brain injury and challenging behaviour: A randomised controlled trial.

Background: Challenging behaviours are common and disabling consequences of acquired brain injury (ABI), causing stress for close-others and disrupting community integration. Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) interventions have support from case studies as a means of reducing these behaviours, but controlled trials are lacking.

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate, with a randomised waitlist-controlled trial, the efficacy of a 12-month PBS intervention, termed PBS+PLUS, in reducing challenging behaviours after ABI.

Driver, Collision and Meteorological Characteristics of Motor Vehicle Collisions among Road Trauma Survivors.

Road trauma remains a significant public health problem. We aimed to identify sub-groups of motor vehicle collisions in Victoria, Australia, and the association between collision characteristics and outcomes up to 24 months post-injury. Data were extracted from the Victorian State Trauma Registry for injured drivers aged ≥16 years, from 2010 to 2016, with a compensation claim who survived ≥12 months post-injury.

Long-term health and mobility of older adults following traumatic injury: a qualitative longitudinal study.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to explore older adults' experiences of and approaches to managing their long-term health and mobility after traumatic injury.

Methods: A longitudinal qualitative study was undertaken with older adults following traumatic injury in Victoria, Australia. Fifteen participants (≥65 years) were interviewed at three years post-injury ( = 15), and re-interviewed at four ( = 14) and five years ( = 12) post-injury.

Investigating Clinician Experiences of Teleneuropsychology Service Implementation within Rural Inpatient Rehabilitation Settings: A Mixed Method Approach.

Objective: The aim of this study was to understand clinicians' experiences of teleneuropsychology service implementation within rural inpatient rehabilitation settings and the variability of those experiences across rural settings and clinical disciplines.

Method: Clinicians (n = 56 from four rehabilitation settings) who were involved in a hub-and-spoke teleneuropsychology service completed surveys throughout service implementation. A purposive sample of 16 clinicians then completed semi-structured interviews at the conclusion of the service implementation period.

Which training methods are effective for learning new smartphone memory apps after acquired brain injury? A pilot randomized controlled trial comparing trial and error, systematic instruction and error-based learning.

This study aimed to compare the efficacy of three skills training methods (Trial and error TEL; systematic instruction SI; and error-based learning EBL) for training the use of a smartphone reminder app in individuals with an acquired brain injury. Participants ( = 38, M = 61.21 years, 71.

Exploring employment following traumatic brain injury in persons who completed an insurer funded vocational rehabilitation program in Australia.

Purpose: To extend the authors' previous research by investigating the maintenance of work performance over time and the long-term experience of employment following traumatic brain injury (TBI).

Materials And Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with a sample of 72 individuals with predominantly severe TBI, up to 10-years post-injury. Thematic analysis of transcribed interviews was conducted.