Evaluation of Parent and Child Psychoeducation Resources for the Prevention of Paediatric Post-concussion Symptoms

Abstract

Background: Persistent post-concussion symptoms (PCS) are associated with adverse psychosocial outcomes, including psychological distress and poorer health-related quality of life (HRQOL). Research has found that the occurrence of persistent PCS can be lowered via paper-based psychoeducation. Unfortunately, these resources have mostly been evaluated in adult populations. Studies in children have failed to address the role of parents in the development and maintenance of PCS, and unfortunately fail to reach a large proportion of the mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) population who do not attend hospital. This study aimed to describe and evaluate a parent information booklet and child information website, for the prevention of paediatric PCS.Methods: Children with uncomplicated mTBI were randomly assigned to either the Intervention (n = 29) or Usual Care condition (n = 20). Families completed pre-treatment, post-treatment (3 month) and follow-up (6 month) assessments of children's PCS, cognitive and psychosocial functioning, and parent's psychosocial functioning. Families also provided feedback on the psychoeducation resources.Results: The Intervention programme, compared to Usual Care, was not associated with significant reductions in children's PCS or HRQOL, parent or child psychological distress, or parent or child knowledge of mTBI.Conclusions: Psychoeducation resources do not appear to be superior to usual care in promotion of both child and parent psychosocial outcomes following mTBI.