Citation

van Ierssel J, Sveistrup H, Marshall S. Qual. Life Res. 2018; 27(12): 3071-3086.

Affiliation

Department of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1007/s11136-018-1939-8

PMID

30030674

Abstract

PURPOSE: To identify the concepts contained within health-related quality of life (HRQOL) outcome measures used in concussion-specific research using the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF) as a reference.

METHODS: Eight electronic databases were searched from January 1, 1992 to March 12, 2017. Gray literature was searched, reference lists scanned, and relevant journals hand-searched. Agreement for inclusion was reached by consensus by two reviewers. A standardized data extraction tool was used to document study design, population, and key findings. Questionnaire items were linked as concepts to the corresponding second-level category of the ICF. Quality of studies was not assessed, as review was exploratory.

RESULTS: Five outcome measures met the inclusion criteria, including the Perceived Quality of Life Scale, EuroQoL-5 dimensions, Quality of Life after Brain Injury, WHOQOL-100, and WHOQOL-BREF. A total of 373 concepts were extracted. 34 questions were linked to activities and participation (50.7%), 16 questions (23.9%) referred to body functions, and 17 questions (25.4%) were related to the environment.

CONCLUSIONS: The wide range of concepts covered by different outcome measures demonstrates the complexity of recovery post-concussion and a lack of universal agreement in terms of what should be measured in this population. A working conceptual model of HRQOL post-concussion is proposed. Registration Prospero #CRD42017068241 (June 15, 2017).

Language: en

Keywords

Brain concussion; Brain injuries; International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health; Persistent post-concussion symptoms; Quality of life; Traumatic