Parental Knowledge and Recall of Concussion Discharge Instructions

Journal of Emergency Nursing : JEN : Official Publication of the Emergency Department Nurses Association
Danny George ThomasThomas Hammeke

Abstract

Children increasingly are being seen in the emergency department for a concussion, or mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). A key aim of the ED visit is to provide discharge advice that can help parents to identify an evolving neurosurgical crisis, facilitate recovery, and prevent reinjury. The present study examined parents' knowledge of symptoms and recall of discharge instructions after their adolescent's mTBI and the effect of supplementing written discharge instructions with verbal instruction and reinforcement. We performed a nested observational study of parents/caregivers of patients who participated in a larger mTBI study. After their adolescent's mTBI, parents were given verbal and standardized written instructions. The ED discharge process was observed using a structured checklist, and parents were surveyed 3 days after discharge on knowledge and recall of discharge instructions. Ninety-three parents completed the postsurvey. Nearly 1 in 5 parents were confused about when to return to the emergency department after evaluation for head injury. Up to 1 in 4 parents could not recall specific discharge advice related to concussion. Parents who received verbal reinforcement of written discharge instructions were more likely...Continue Reading

Citations

Sep 1, 2018·The Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation·Kimberly LeverHenry Xiang
Nov 20, 2019·Academic Emergency Medicine : Official Journal of the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine·Sheena BelisleNaveen Poonai
Jan 31, 2020·Advanced Emergency Nursing Journal·Ryan P KeenanSharon Smith

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