Oyesanya Submits Duke CTSI KL2 Application

Kudos to Tolu Oyesanya, assistant professor, and her entire team for the submission of her Duke CTSI KL2 application entitled “Development of a Transitional Care Intervention to Support Young Adults with Traumatic Brain Injury and Their Family Members in the Transition from Hospital to Home." This proposal request funding for a three-year period with a start date of Jan. 1, 2019.

Despite high risks of readmission and complex medical needs, there are no TBI transitional care standards in the U.S., which affects post-acute outcomes of young adults with moderate-to-severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) (age 18-35) discharged home from acute hospital care. Young adults with TBI are discharged home from acute care with cognitive, physical, behavioral, and emotional impairments that affect their abilities to independently self-manage their health, wellness, and activities of daily living. This limited independence often results in increased family involvement in managing the person’s care. Although preliminary research shows that persons with TBI and families desire and could benefit from provider support during the transition from hospital to home, the strength of evidence is low on TBI transitional care interventions to support young adults with TBI and families as they transition home from the hospital.  In addition, specific support needs of young adults with TBI and their families during the transition home are not well understood and there is limited knowledge on strategies to support young adults with TBI and their families during this time frame. The research proposed in this Duke CTSA KL2 will address these gaps in knowledge. The purpose of this three-year award to first identify needs related to skills, supports, resources, and goals during the transition home from acute hospital care from the perspectives of young adults with TBI, families, and providers. Second, we will use these essential insights to direct development of a patient- and family-centered transitional care intervention to support young adults with moderate-to-severe TBI and their families as they transition home from acute hospital care. Findings will be used as a model for future studies focused on the efficacy and implementation-effectiveness of a TBI transitional care intervention for young adults with TBI and their families.