Table 2.
Participant’s characteristics*
| Variable | Participants (n=40) |
| Age, mean (SD), years | 45.23 (24.97) |
| Male | 19 (47.5) |
| Time between injury and assessment in hospital, mean (SD), hours | 45.15 (121.70) |
| Sports-related head injuries | 5 (12.5) |
| Number of previous concussion, mean (SD) | 0.35 (0.74) |
| Hospitalised because of HI in the past | 6 (15.0) |
| Diagnosed or treated for headache disorder or migraines | 11 (27.5) |
| Diagnosed with learning disabilities or dyslexia | 2 (5.0) |
| Diagnosed with ADHD | 0 (0.0) |
| Diagnosed with depression, anxiety or sleep disorder | 8 (20.0) |
| Currently prescribed medication | 24 (60.0) |
| Cause of HI | |
| Direct blow | 18 (45.0) |
| Fall | 19 (47.5) |
| Motor vehicle collision | 3 (7.5) |
| Step 2 score: orientation (0–5), mean (SD) | 4.65 (0.62) |
| Step 3 score: immediate memory (0–15), mean (SD) | 13.58 (2.06) |
| Step 4 score: total number of symptoms (0–22), mean (SD) | 11.13 (6.60) |
| Step 4 score: symptom severity score (0–132), mean (SD) | 35.93 (28.12) |
| Symptoms worse with physical activity | |
| Yes | 5 (12.5) |
| No | 7 (17.5) |
| Unknown | 28 (70.0) |
| Symptoms worse with mental activity | |
| Yes | 19 (47.5) |
| No | 12 (30.0) |
| Unknown | 9 (22.5) |
| Step 5 score: balance examination (0–40), mean (SD) | 24.18 (15.18) |
| Step 6 score: delayed recall (0–5), mean (SD) | 3.03 (1.70) |
| Investigated with a CT scan in ED | 18 (45.0) |
| Management of patient | |
| Discharged home same day | 37 (92.5) |
| Discharged home next day | 2 (5.0) |
| Admitted | 1 (2.5) |
| Patients reattending the ED within 30 days | 3 (7.5) |
*Values are number (%) of participants unless stated otherwise. If a mean is shown, in brackets is the SD. In brackets after variables that are scored are the potential scores available for that section.
ADHD, attention deficient hyperactivity disorder; ED, emergency department; HI, head injury.