Stakeholder Perspectives on Navigating the Pediatric Concussion Experience: Exploring the Needs for Improved Communication Across the Care Continuum

Overview

Journal NeuroRehabilitation

Publisher Sage Publications

Specialties Neurology
Rehabilitation Medicine

Date 2023 May 1

PMID 37125574

Authors

Douglas Gomez

Ann Glang

Juliet Haarbauer-Krupa

Rachel Bull

Paula Tucker

Jonathan Ratcliffe

Alex Hall

Gerard A Gioia

Shabnam Jain

Usha Sathian

Harold K Simon

David Wright

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: For children, the post-concussion return to school process is a critical step towards achieving positive health outcomes. The process requires integration between healthcare professionals, parents, and school personnel.

Objective: This research team conducted focus groups with stakeholders including parents, education personnel, school nurses, external healthcare providers (nurses) and athletic trainers to identify communication patterns between healthcare providers outside of the school setting and school personnel.

Methods: Data from focus groups were analyzed using a Thematic Analysis approach. Researchers used an inductive (bottom-up) coding process to describe semantic themes and utilized a critical realist epistemology.

Results: We identified four key themes within focus group data: (1) lack of effective communication between hospital and outpatient healthcare providers to school personnel; (2) parents who were strong advocates had improved communication with healthcare professionals and garnered more accommodations for their children; (3) non-school professionals and families were often confused about who the point of contact was at a given school; and (4) differing experiences for athletes vs. non-athletes.

Conclusion: This study suggests gaps in communication between healthcare and school professionals when children return to school following a concussion. Improving communication between healthcare providers and school staff will require a multi-faceted approach.

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