Follow-up visits after pediatric concussion and the factors associated with early follow-up: a population-based study in British Columbia

Abstract

Objectives: To explore the rates and timing of a first follow-up visit for children and adolescents with a concussive injury and to identify factors associated with follow-up timing.

Methods: A descriptive, correlational design drawing on linked, population-based administrative data of concussed children and adolescents (ages 5-18 years) from the province of British Columbia (BC), Canada. Data were accessed through Population Data BC. Descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression were used to analyze the data.

Results: From January 1, 2016 to December 31, 2017, we retrieved 22,601 cases of concussion, of which 19% had an early follow-up visit (N = 4,294), 4.9% had later follow-up (N = 1,107), and 76.1% had no follow-up (N = 17,200). The factors of older age, living in a rural area, higher socioeconomic status, and seeing a specialist physician at an initial concussion diagnosis were more likely to have an early follow-up visit.

Conclusion: Early follow-up is important for recovery, but most children and adolescents with a concussion do not receive follow-up in BC.

Keywords: Pediatric; adolescents; children; concussion; epidemiology; follow-up.