THE RIVERMEAD HEAD-INJURY FOLLOW-UP QUESTIONNAIRE - A STUDY OF A NEW RATING-SCALE AND OTHER MEASURES TO EVALUATE OUTCOME AFTER HEAD-INJURY

Objective-To develop and evaluate a short (10 item) simple measure of outcome mainly for use with patients with mild to moderate head injuri es. Design-Two studies on patients at three and six months after injur y, comparing different methods of administration (two raters and posta l questionnaire), and comparing ratings with other assessments. Subjec ts-Forty three patients seen three months after injury and 46 seen six months after injury: both groups had head injuries covering a range o f severity from minor to severe. Main outcome measures-Differences bet ween ratings in different groups of patients (Mann-Whitney U test); di fferences in ratings using different methods of administration (Wilcox on signed rank test); and correlations between ratings from the same p atient (Spearman r). Results-The sum total ratings were consistent bet ween raters and between methods (postal questionnaire v face to face i nterview) with no evidence of selective bias between raters or methods . Ratings on individual items were also reasonably consistent. The sum total ratings varied as anticipated between groups divided by clinica l judgement of recovery and patient assessment of recovery, and relate d as expected to the extent of post;concussion symptomatology. The 10 items included covered the most important problem areas reported by pa tients.Conclusion-The Rivermead head injury follow up questionnaire (R HFUQ) is a short, simple, adequately reliable, and valid measure of ou tcome, across the entire range of severity, but particularly after mil d to moderate head injury.