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Review
. 2023;52(3):315-328.
doi: 10.3233/NRE-220216.

Follow-up visits after a concussion in the pediatric population: An integrative review

Scott Ramsay  1   2 , V Susan Dahinten  1 , Manon Ranger  1   2 , Shelina Babul  2   3   4
Affiliations
Review

Follow-up visits after a concussion in the pediatric population: An integrative review

Scott Ramsay et al. NeuroRehabilitation. 2023.

Abstract

Background: Concussions are a significant health issue for children and youth. After a concussion diagnosis, follow-up visits with a health care provider are important for reassessment, continued management, and further education.

Objective: This review aimed to synthesize and analyse the current state of the literature on follow-up visits of children with a concussive injury and examine the factors associated with follow-up visits.

Methods: An integrative review was conducted based on Whittemore and Knafl's framework. Databases searched included PubMed, MEDLINE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and Google Scholar.

Results: Twenty-four articles were reviewed. We identified follow-up visit rates, timing to a first follow-up visit, and factors associated with follow-up visits as common themes. Follow-up visit rates ranged widely, from 13.2 to 99.5%, but time to the first follow-up visit was only reported in eight studies. Three types of factors were associated with attending a follow-up visit: injury-related factors, individual factors, and health service factors.

Conclusion: Concussed children and youth have varying rates of follow-up care after an initial concussion diagnosis, with little known about the timing of this visit. Diverse factors are associated with the first follow-up visit. Further research on follow-up visits after a concussion in this population is warranted.

Keywords: Concussion; children; follow-up visits; health services; youth.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors certify that there is no conflict of interest with any financial organization regarding the material discussed in the manuscript.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
PRISMA diagram: Follow-up visits after a concussion in the pediatric population.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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