Predictors of participation over the 10 years after TBI in black individuals.

BackgroundTraumatic brain injury (TBI) is a serious public health problem and is associated with an increased number of health comorbidities.ObjectiveThis study examined: (a) longitudinal trajectories of participation over the 10 years after TBI in a group of Black individuals, and (b) demographic and injury-related predictors of those trajectories.MethodThis study included 1,989 Black individuals in the national TBI Model Systems (TBIMS) Database, who had at least one of each Participation Assessment with Recombined Tools-Objective (PART-O) subscale scores at one or more follow-up time points (1, 2, 5, and 10 years after TBI).ResultsLower PART-O Productivity trajectories were observed among participants who were male (b = -.26, p = .001), were older at the time of injury (b = -.02, p < .001), had a lower education level (b = .06, p < .001), had public insurance coverage (b = .17, p = .009), and had longer posttraumatic amnesia (PTA) duration (b = -.28, p < .001). Lower PART-O Social trajectories emerged among participants who were older at the time of injury (b = -.02, p < .001), did not have a partner at the time of injury (b = .66, p < .001), had public insurance coverage (b = .19, p = .009), and had longer PTA duration (b = -.19, p = .001). Lower PART-O Out and About trajectories emerged among participants who were older at the time of injury (b = -.01, p = .018) and had a lower education level (b = .05, p < .001).ConclusionThe findings highlight the importance of understanding the strengths, risk factors, and unmet needs of this group, many of whom experience decreased community and social engagement after TBI.