Research In Action

In a previous post in the Research In Action Blog, we highlighted work occurring within the Minds Matter Concussion Program to utilize remote patient monitoring (RPM) to track youth with concussion from various care settings. We also introduced the idea that RPM could be used not only to monitor youth with concussion, but also to intervene to help improve recovery outcomes. We were specifically focused on pediatric patients presenting to the emergency department as a group who may experience inequities in care based on socioeconomic characteristics and opportunities available within their neighborhood. 

We’re excited to announce that we recently launched a clinical trial to help us further understand the potential of RPM to help deliver targeted concussion care, particularly for those patients at highest risk of experiencing care inequities. 

The study will involve enrollment of a group of approximately 150 youth with concussion, ages 13-18, from the emergency department setting and utilize a secure-HTML based chat with the following features: 

• The chat will guide participants through completing daily assessments of symptoms, changes to sleep, medication utilization, and daily activity.
• Participant responses are integrated into the CHOP electronic health record.
• Alerts to the specialty team are triggered by the information entered, including findings such as a high overall total symptom score, an increasing total symptom score, a plateauing total symptom score, or a high emotional symptom burden.
• The triggering of an alert immediately notifies the concussion specialty care team, who will reach out to the family and begin delivering targeted care.

As a hybrid implementation-effectiveness study, it will assess both effectiveness and implementation outcomes, including the following: 

• Percent of patients meeting criteria for referral to specialty care who ultimately are seen by the concussion specialty team
• Perceived fit of the new referral practice by patients, parents, and providers
• Acceptability of the new technology by patients, parents, and providers
• Presence of persisting concussion symptoms
• Number of days until return to pre-injury symptom levels
• Number of days until clearance for full/unrestricted activity
• Number of days until return to school without accommodation 

You can read more about the protocol in our recently published manuscript. 

The Minds Matter Concussion Program Model seeks to better understand and address disparities in care across clinical and community settings. Ultimately, we believe this RPM work will lead to exciting advances in concussion care—beyond the specialty care setting—for a larger and more diverse group of youth diagnosed with concussion.