Post-concussive symptoms mediate the relationship between sleep problems and participation restrictions among veterans with mild traumatic brain injury

Factors influencing shared decision-making for insomnia and obstructive sleep apnea treatment among Veterans with mild traumatic brain injury

STUDY OBJECTIVES

We elicited perspectives of clinical stakeholders and Veterans regarding barriers and facilitators to implementing shared decision-making (SDM) for comorbid mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) and sleep disorders in the Veterans Health Administration. We also compared the perspectives of clinical stakeholders and Veterans regarding determinants of SDM.

METHODS

Semistructured interviews were conducted with 29 clinical stakeholders and 20 Veterans (n = 49). Clinical stakeholders included Veterans Health Administration providers and policymakers involved in the management of mTBI and/or sleep disorders (insomnia disorder, obstructive sleep apnea). Veterans included those with a clinician-confirmed mTBI who received care for insomnia disorder and/or obstructive sleep apnea within the past year. Themes were identified using a descriptive and interpretive approach to qualitative analysis. We compared results across clinical stakeholders and Veterans.

RESULTS

Barriers to implementing SDM were identified by both groups at the patient (eg, mTBI sequalae), provider (eg, deprioritization of Veteran preferences), encounter (eg, time constraints), and facility levels (eg, reduced care access). Similarly, both groups identified facilitators at the patient (eg, enhanced trust), provider (eg, effective communication), encounter (eg, decision support), and facility levels (eg, mitigating access barriers). Integrated services and provider discontinuity were factors identified by clinical stakeholders and Veterans alone, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study revealed factors shaping the implementation of SDM at the levels of the patient, provider, encounter, and facility. Findings can inform the development of strategies aimed at implementing SDM for comorbid mTBI and sleep disorders, promoting patient-centered care and enhancing clinical outcomes.

CITATION

Kinney AR, Brenner LA, Nance M, et al. Factors influencing shared decision-making for insomnia and obstructive sleep apnea treatment among Veterans with mild traumatic brain injury. J Clin Sleep Med. 2024;20(5):801-812.

Identifying and Predicting Subgroups of Veterans With Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Based on Distinct Configurations of Postconcussive Symptom Endorsement: A Latent Class Analysis

OBJECTIVE

To identify distinct subgroups of veterans with mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) based on configurations of postconcussive symptom (PCS) endorsement, and to examine predictors of subgroup membership.

SETTING

Outpatient Veterans Health Administration (VHA).

PARTICIPANTS

Veterans with clinician-confirmed mTBI who completed the Neurobehavioral Symptom Inventory (NSI), determined using the Comprehensive Traumatic Brain Injury Evaluation database. Individuals who tended to overreport symptoms were excluded via an embedded symptom validity scale.

DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study leveraging national VHA clinical data from 2012 to 2020. Latent class analysis (LCA) with a split-sample cross-validation procedure was used to identify subgroups of veterans. Multinomial logistic regression was used to examine predictors of subgroup membership.

MAIN MEASURES

Latent classes identified using NSI items.

RESULTS

The study included 72 252 eligible veterans, who were primarily White (73%) and male (94%). The LCA supported 7 distinct subgroups of veterans with mTBI, characterized by diverging patterns of risk for specific PCS across vestibular (eg, dizziness), somatosensory (eg, headache), cognitive (eg, forgetfulness), and mood domains (eg, anxiety). The most prevalent subgroup was Global (20.7%), followed by Cognitive-Mood (16.3%), Headache-Cognitive-Mood (H-C-M; 16.3%), Headache-Mood (14.2%), Anxiety (13.8%), Headache-Sleep (10.3%), and Minimal (8.5%). The Global class was used as the reference class for multinomial logistic regression because it was distinguished from others based on elevated risk for PCS across all domains. Female (vs male), Black (vs White), and Hispanic veterans (vs non-Hispanic) were less likely to be members of most subgroups characterized by lesser PCS endorsement relative to the Global class (excluding Headache-Mood).

CONCLUSION

The 7 distinct groups identified in this study distill heterogenous patterns of PCS endorsement into clinically actionable phenotypes that can be used to tailor clinical management of veterans with mTBI. Findings reveal empirical support for potential racial, ethnic, and sex-based disparities in PCS among veterans, informing efforts aimed at promoting equitable recovery from mTBI in this population.

Unmet Need for Outpatient Occupational Therapy Services Among Veterans With Mild Traumatic Brain Injury in the Veterans Health Administration: The Role of Facility Characteristics

OBJECTIVE

To investigate whether participation restrictions, an indicator of need for occupational therapy (OT), was associated with outpatient OT utilization in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) among Veterans with mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), and whether this relation differs by facility characteristics.

DESIGN

In a secondary analysis of national VHA data, we used modified Poisson regression to model OT utilization (yes/no) as a function of participation restrictions (Mayo-Portland Adaptability Inventory Participation Index [M2PI]), facility characteristics, and covariates. Facility characteristics included complexity, geographic region, and self-reported access to specialty care. Covariates included prior OT utilization, sociodemographic factors, injury characteristics, and spatial access (eg, drive time). Interactions estimated whether the relation between participation restrictions and OT utilization differed across facility characteristics.

SETTING

Outpatient setting in the VHA.

PARTICIPANTS

8684 Veterans with a clinician-confirmed mTBI who received outpatient VHA care between 2012 and 2020 (N=8684).

INTERVENTIONS

None.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S)

OT utilization was measured within a year of M2PI administration using VHA administrative data.

RESULTS

Many Veterans who did not receive OT reported participation limitations, indicating unmet need for OT (eg, 67% with leisure restrictions). Participation restrictions were associated with increased likelihood of receiving OT (risk ratio [RR]=1.01; 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.006-1.019), suggesting a tendency for Veterans' OT-related needs to be satisfied. However, interactions indicated that this was not the case among Veterans receiving care in lower complexity facilities, and those in the South. Veterans with longer drive times were less likely to receive OT (RR=0.82; 95% CI=0.744-0.904).

CONCLUSIONS

Participation restrictions were associated with OT utilization, yet many Veterans with mTBI who may have benefited did not receive such care. Specific barriers to accessing OT (eg, OT practitioner supply) should be investigated. Novel care models can ensure access to OT services among Veterans seeking care at less-resourced and/or geographically distant VHA facilities.

Participation in the Chronic Phase after Traumatic Brain Injury: Variations and Key Predictors

Participation is of major importance for individuals with traumatic brain injury (TBI). This study evaluates participation over a period of one year among persons with TBI in the chronic phase and explores sociodemographic, psychological, and environmental predictors of levels and trajectories of participation. One hundred and twenty home-living survivors of TBI with persistent injury-related consequences at least two years post-injury who participated in a goal-oriented randomized trial were assessed at baseline and after four and twelve months. Linear mixed-effects model analysis was applied to evaluate height, trajectory slope, and predictors of the Participation Assessment with the Recombined Tools-Objective (PART-O) total score and the subscales Productivity, Social Relations, and Being Out and About. Being married, having a higher education, and having good global functioning predicted more frequent participation. Education, executive- and global functions predicted Productivity, while age and being married predicted Social Relations. Participating in the study during the COVID-19 pandemic had a negative impact on Productivity. Participation was relatively stable over 12 months, with a slight decline, but may be influenced by demographic factors and functional consequences. Rehabilitation services should particularly focus on people with TBI living alone with lower levels of global and executive function.