Community-based interventions for adolescents following traumatic brain injury: a systematic review

Background: Chronic impairment following childhood traumatic brain injury has the potential to increase risk of negative outcomes. This highlights potential value of community-based rehabilitation programs. Objectives: To identify research studies examining existing intervention programmes available in community-based rehabilitation to adolescents following TBI to assist with the transition back into the community. Methods: A systematic review of community-based interventions was conducted across different national contexts. All included studies involved a clinical population with TBI, aged 11 to 25 years inclusive. Risk of bias was rated for each included study. Results: Seventeen studies were identified for inclusion in the review, of these eleven distinct interventions were found. The quality of evidence was largely weak and highly variable. Conclusion: The results suggest some improvement in adolescent outcomes following community-based interventions, however higher quality evidence is needed to support specific interventions.