Project Snapshot – Head Injury Co-design

Co-designing discharge communication strategies for paediatric minor head injuries.

Co-ordinating PI:

Emma Tavender/Franz Babl

Study Co-ordinator ANZ

Emma Tavender/Cate Wilson

Study aim/s:

To improve discharge communication currently provided to children presenting to the ED with mild to moderate head injuries (concussion). Specifically, adolescents who have an increased risk of post-concussion symptoms (PCS).

Study design:

Mixed Methods:  stepped co-design method to engage consumers (parents and youths) and clinicians in the development of head injury discharge communication strategies.

Primary outcome:

Co-designed discharge communication strategies for adolescents with mild to moderate head injuries (concussion) with parents, youths and clinicians.

Additional outcomes:
  • Training materials that can be used for future co-design efforts
  • Advancement in the science of implementation and contribution to future discharge communication strategy development for other common paediatric ED presentations.
Current status:
  • Ethics received from RCH and Western Health.
  • Recruited four parents, four clinicians and three youths to participate.
  • Orientation/training session plus three meetings held.
  • Priorities for improvement have been determined.
  • List of priorities reduced to two key areas for improvement: Head injury: what to expect in the ED and Concussion discharge information.
  • Prototype to address the two key priorities that have been developed and updated in response to new International Sports-related Concussion guidance (Amsterdam 2023)
  • Plan to start usability testing end 2023/early 2024.