Posttraumatic Behavioral and Cognitive Alterations Among Patients With Head Injury

Abstract

Trauma to the Central Nervous System constitutes an important cause of death and permanent disability. According to CDC the yearly incidence of TBI is eight times greater than that of breast cancer and 34 times greater than HIV/AIDS. TBI meaningfully touch cognitive, physical, and emotional skills. It comprises ambulation, equilibrium, coordination, fine motor skills, strength, communication, data processing, and recollection and so on. Need for the study: injury to the brain and neurological deficits are very common to all over the world. Neurobehavioral deficits especially in cognition are often the cause of significant disability after TBI. Since all patients with TBI manifest themselves in a different way, it is the responsibility of the nurse to understand the way the individuals behave and the potentialities in order to provide better nursing care. The cognitive and behavioral alterations of patients after TBI should be evaluated carefully along with the other neurological assessments. Statement of the Problem: “A study to assess the post traumatic behavioral and cognitive alterations among patients with head injury at KMCH, Coimbatore.” Objectives: To assess the behavioral and cognitive alterations and associate them with selected demographic variables. Design and Sampling: Nonexperimental descriptive research design was used for this study. Nonprobability purposive sampling technique was adopted to select the samples. Instruments: Consisted of demographic proforma, Nurses Observation Scale for Inpatient Evaluation (NOSIE-30) to assess the behavioral alterations and Mini Mental State Examination to assess the cognitive alterations. Data was collected and analyzed using descriptive & inferential statistics. Discussion: Among 30 samples majority were males (97%) and between the age group of 20 and 30 years. 87% had TBI due to RTA. 53% were conscious after TBI. Only 10% had convulsions after the trauma, 83% had first aid immediately after the trauma. Regarding the behavioral alterations there was a significant difference found in the positive (social competence) & negative (irritability) behavioral dimensions at the level of 0.05. While considering the cognitive alterations there was a significant difference found in the language at the level of 0.05. Conclusion: There was a significant behavioral and cognitive alteration after head trauma. NOSIE-30 and MMSE helped to understand the behavioral & cognitive alteration of patients with TBI, respectively.