Service and support needs following pediatric brain injury: perspectives of children with mild traumatic brain injury and their parents.

To provide a qualitative examination of the service and support needs of children who have had a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), and their parents, in order to improve clinical services. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 9 children (8-12 years; M = 10.6 years, SD = 0.8) and their parents (n = 9) 29-55 days (M = 34 days; SD = 9.3) after presenting to an Australian Paediatric Emergency Department (PED) for mTBI. Children's post-concussive symptoms (PCS) were additionally measured using the Post-Concussive Symptom Inventory (PCSI). Audio recordings were transcribed, and a thematic analysis was conducted. Post-injury needs were reflected in four main themes: Communication; Family Burden; Continuity of Care; and Social and Community Support. These themes reflected children's and parents' needs for information, emotional/social/community support, and follow-up care. Both the children's and parents' needs, and the extent to which they were met, appeared to be related to the severity and duration of the child's PCS. Dedicated pediatric mTBI follow-up services that build on family's resources and meet their individual needs for information, emotional support, and referral may assist in optimizing post-injury outcomes.