Research Letter: Assessing Traumatic Brain Injury in Refugees: Feasibility, Usability, and Prevalence Insights From a US-Based Clinical Sample.

Abstract

Objective: This study assessed (1) the feasibility and usability of traumatic brain injury (TBI) assessment using the Ohio State University TBI Identification Method (OSU-TBI-ID) in a sample of English and Spanish-speaking refugees and asylum seekers (hereafter refugees), and (2) the prevalence and characteristics of TBI in this population.

Setting and participants: Refugees seeking care from Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) Asylum Clinic, the MGH Chelsea HealthCare Center, and other asylum programs in the Greater Boston Area.

Design and main measures: Bilingual clinical research coordinators screened 158 English and Spanish-speaking refugees using the OSU-TBI-ID. A "positive" screen for TBI was made if a participant reported loss of consciousness (LOC) or being dazed or confused following a head injury, with determinations of mild, moderate, and severe TBI based on established metrics of TBI severity using duration of LOC. We conducted descriptive statistics of the sample demographics and screening outcomes, including group comparisons between those with and without TBI and associated demographic characteristics.

Results: The mean age was 36.8 years (SD: 9.1), with participants predominantly from Latin America and the Caribbean (51%), followed by Sub-Saharan Africa (35%). Less than half (43%) identified as men. The majority (59%) screened positive for having experienced at least 1 TBI in their lifetime. Among those with a TBI history, nearly three-quarters (73%) had a mild TBI, and about a third (38%) had sustained a moderate-to-severe TBI. A majority (56%) had more than 1 TBI and about 40% had sustained a childhood TBI. The most common mechanisms of injury were interpersonal assault (55%) and blunt trauma by an object (46%). There were no significant statistical differences in demographics and TBI characteristics.

Conclusion: Our findings demonstrate the feasibility and usability of the OSU-TBI-ID in a sample of refugees. We call for greater and improved detection of TBI among refugees to ensure they receive the optimal care they need.