Feasibility and Preliminary Validation of an Online Version of the Ohio State University Traumatic Brain Injury Identification Method

Abstract

Objective: To test the feasibility and validity of an online version of an established interview designed to determine a lifetime history of traumatic brain injury (TBI).

Design: Cross-sectional.

Setting: General community.

Participants: A volunteer sample of individuals (N= 265) from the general population across the United States.

Interventions: Not applicable.

Main outcome measure(s): Online version of the Ohio State University Traumatic Brain Injury Identification Method, Rivermead Postconcussion Symptoms Questionnaire (RPQ), Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Cognitive Concerns Scale.

Results: The measure was completed by 89.4% of the sample with most participants completing the measure in <8 minutes. After controlling for age, sex, psychiatric history, drug or alcohol history, and history of developmental disability, worst TBI severity was significantly associated with scores on the RPQ, F(2,230)=4.56, P=.011, and having a TBI within the past 2 years was associated with higher scores on the cognitive factor subscale of the RPQ, F(1,75)=7.7, P=.007.

Conclusions: The online administration of the Ohio State University Traumatic Brain Injury Identification Method appears to be feasible in the general population. Preliminary validity was demonstrated for the indices of worst TBI severity and time since most recent TBI.

Keywords: History; Questionnaires; Rehabilitation; Survey; Traumatic brain injury.