Two-Year Outcome Following Traumatic Brain Injury and Rehabilitation: A Comparison of Patients From Metropolitan Melbourne and Those Residing in Regional Victoria

Abstract

Background and Objective: Victoria's trauma management system provides acute care and rehabilitation following traumatic brain injury (TBI), with care of more complex injuries generally provided in specialist centres in metropolitan Melbourne. Little is known about how the outcomes of TBI survivors living in metropolitan Melbourne compare to those who reside in regional Victoria once they return to their community, where support services may be less available. The aim of the present study was to compare, in TBI individuals who have been treated at an inner-city rehabilitation centre in Melbourne, the long-term outcomes of those who live in metropolitan Melbourne (termed ‘Metro’) with those who reside in regional Victoria, termed ‘Regional.’ Design and participants: Comparative study with quantitative outcome measures. A total of 959 patients, of whom 645 were designated ‘metro’ and 314 ‘regional’, were followed-up routinely at 2 years post-injury. Outcome measures: Structured Outcome Questionnaire, Glasgow Outcome Scale — Extended, Sickness Impact Profile, Craig Handicap Assessment and Reporting Technique, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test and Drug Abuse Screening Test. Results: Few differences in outcomes were found between groups. However, after controlling for group differences in age and injury severity, some non-significant trends were suggestive of better outcomes in terms of less social isolation and anxiety and fewer dysexecutive behaviours in regional dwellers. Conclusions: These findings suggest that outcomes in patients from regional areas are at least as good as those from metropolitan Melbourne.