Factors predicting rehabilitative service provision in adults with traumatic brain injury

Approximately 300,000 people sustain a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) each year, with a very small percentage receiving formal rehabilitation. The result is a large number of individuals who do not meet their maximum potential outcomes following TBI. Little is known about the factors that may affect access to rehabilitation, the amount of rehabilitation provided in varying settings, or participation patterns in these rehabilitation programs. This project was designed to address three research goals: defining the relationship between the model's independent variable following TBI and whether or not the patient receives rehabilitation services, the relationship between the independent variables following TBI and the amount of rehabilitation services received, and the relationship between independent variables following TBI and discharge disposition following inpatient care.; The medical records of 712 adults incurring a TBI as a result of a motor vehicle accident (MVA) were examined. Logistic regression, odds ratio, t-tests, analysis of variance, analysis of covariance, and multinomial regression were used to evaluate the relationship between the independent and dependent variables in the study. Results indicate that admission to ICU, diagnosis of orthopedic impairment, and discharge disposition were significant predictors of physical, occupational, and speech therapy service provision following TBI. Gender and primary payer were significant predictors of speech therapy, but not physical or occupational therapies. Admission to ICU was a significant predictor of the amount of occupational and speech therapy provided following TBI. Age, admission to ICU, length of stay, and primary payer were significant predictors of discharge disposition following initial hospitalization.