Diss. (sammanfattning) Umeå : Univ., 2004. / Härtill 4 uppsatser.

Thesis (doctoral)--Universitetet i Göteborg.

A research report submitted to the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Occupational Therapy. Johannesburg, 2013 / Whilst patients are in hospital, their families are expected to understand and remember complex information from the medical team. Previous studies have shown that high levels of anxiety impair a person’s ability to interpret complex information and memory recall. It is unknown if family members experience anxiety whilst the patient is in rehabilitation. The study aimed to determine if family members experienced anxiety, and whether there was a significant correlation between anxiety and the length of time the client was admitted to the rehabilitation facility; length of time since the client’s injury; the FIM measurement of the patient; as well as the perception of received information by the treating team. A family representative participated by completing the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and an Information Checklist on three separate occasions during the patient’s stay in a rehabilitation hospital. Family members were found to be anxious throughout the period of rehabilitation, with a decreasing trend in the average scores of the HADS assessment. An increasing trend was noted in the satisfaction of information offered by the treating team. No significant correlation could be found between the family members’ anxiety and the motor or cognitive improvement in the patient – thus indicating that a strong possibility exists that the factors influencing the family members’ anxiety are wide spread and diverse.

Introduction: The incidence of traumatic brain injury was reported to be 360 per 100 000 in South Africa. The consequences of traumatic brain injury include physical, cognitive, psychological, behavioural and emotional deficits. Prognostic factors such as age, mechanism of injury and severity of injury as well as medical history (extent of intervention) assist in determining the outcome of the patient. It is believed that the predictors of recovery assist both the patient as well as family members in determining the duration of rehabilitation as well as potential outcomes for the patient. Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the factors that influence the functional mobility outcome of patients with traumatic brain injury. Method: A cross sectional study was used to collect data where participants were assessed pre-discharge. A self designed questionnaire was administered by the interviewer and the Modified Mini Mental State questionnaire and the Rivermead Mobility Index were also administered. Results: Of the 60 participants, 56 were male and four were female. Half of the patients were able to walk indoors with an assistive device at the time of assessment, with only 36.7 percent of the patients having a higher functional level than walking indoors. The following factors increased the likelihood of functional mobility: the gender of the patient, Grade 12 education, being either self employed or unemployed, an income of between R800 and R2000 as well as more than R5000, having both bowel and bladder continence and Occupational therapy sessions. Factors that were found to have a negative influence on functional mobility include: age, premorbid smoking and drinking, having a craniotomy and physiotherapy sessions. Conclusion: Male gender, high education, being either self employed or unemployed, high income, bowel and bladder continence positively impacted on the functional mobility of the patient on discharge. Older age, premorbid smoking and drinking, having a craniotomy has a negative impact on the physical function of the patient with traumatic brain injury on discharge.

This thesis is submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Emergency Medicine( Msc Med EM), Division of Emergency Medicine, University of Witwatersrand , Faculty of Health Sciences , School of Clinical Medicine, Department of Family Medicine, 2012 / 1. BACKGROUND AND SETTING The study was conducted at Vryheid district hospital in the Kwazulu- Natal province. The increasing number of traumatic brain injuries seen at the hospital has prompted me to describe traumatic brain injuries in the community. Data was collected from the records of casualty department and the hospital wards. 2. AIM This thesis describes traumatic brain injuries at Vryheid district hospital during 2009. 3. METHODS It is a retrospective cohort study with a total sample size of 596 participants; retrieved from patients’ registers at the hospital’s casualty department and hospital wards. 4. RESULTS - The peak age of occurrence of traumatic brain injuries (TBI) at Vryheid is between 20 and 30 years with 75% of injuries happening in younger than 35 years and a mean age of 29 years. - 78% of traumatic brain injuries occurred in female patients but it is important to note that females are in greater number than males at Abaqulusi municipality. - Blacks are the most affected by the traumatic brain injuries at Vryheid: 97% versus 2.4% in white and 0.3 in Asians. - Blunt traumatic brain injuries are the most common type of TBI at Vryheid: 97%. - Assault injuries constitute the major cause of traumatic brain injuries ( 57 %) followed by motor vehicle accidents (40%) - Mild traumatic brain injuries represent 75% of traumatic brain injuries presenting at Vryheid during 2009. - The majority of TBI patients at Vryheid were discharged either from casualty department or from the wards and only as small number of patients died or was transferred out. Moreover, 60% of patients were treated as ambulatory patients. - 94% of TBI at Vryheid hospital had a good prognosis and only a small percentage was associated with bad prognosis. - The mean hospital length stay at Vryheid was 2.2 days with a minimum of less than a day (62%) and a maximum of 129 days. 5. CONCLUSION In 2009, traumatic brain injuries were found to be common at Vryheid hospital in the black population and were mainly due to assault injuries and motor vehicle accidents. Moreover, motor vehicle accidents were associated with high mortality. Although, the majority of traumatic brain injuries at Vryheid hospital were mild, 10% were severe. Thus, TBI at Vryheid constitutes a public health concern that needs to be addressed by the SA government in consultation and collaboration with various stakeholders.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 2001. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 85-89).

Diss. (sammanfattning) Uppsala : Univ., 2001. / Härtill 6 uppsatser.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Stockholm : Karol. inst. / Härtill 6 uppsatser.

"Thèse pour le doctorat en médicine", Paris, 1877. / Spine title: Localisations cérébrales. Text also available online at http://web2.bium.univ-paris5.fr/livanc/?cote=TPAR1877x201&do=chapitre.

Thesis--Helsinki. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 59-64).