TY - JOUR
T1 - Internet and Social Media Use after Traumatic Brain Injury
T2 - A Traumatic Brain Injury Model Systems Study
AU - Baker-Sparr, Christina
AU - Hart, Tessa
AU - Bergquist, Thomas
AU - Bogner, Jennifer
AU - Dreer, Laura
AU - Juengst, Shannon
AU - Mellick, David
AU - O'Neil-Pirozzi, Therese M.
AU - Sander, Angelle M.
AU - Whiteneck, Gale G.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© Copyright 2018 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.
PY - 2018
Y1 - 2018
N2 - Objectives: To characterize Internet and social media use among adults with moderate to severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) and to compare demographic and socioeconomic factors associated with Internet use between those with and without TBI. Setting: Ten Traumatic Brain Injury Model Systems centers. Participants: Persons with moderate to severe TBI (N = 337) enrolled in the TBI Model Systems National Database and eligible for follow-up from April 1, 2014, to March 31, 2015. Design: Prospective cross-sectional observational cohort study. Main Measures: Internet usage survey. Results: The proportion of Internet users with TBI was high (74%) but significantly lower than those in the general population (84%). Smartphones were the most prevalent means of Internet access for persons with TBI. The majority of Internet users with TBI had a profile account on a social networking site (79%), with more than half of the sample reporting multiplatform use of 2 or more social networking sites. Conclusion: Despite the prevalence of Internet use among persons with TBI, technological disparities remain in comparison with the general population. The extent of social media use among persons with TBI demonstrates the potential of these platforms for social engagement and other purposes. However, further research examining the quality of online activities and identifying potential risk factors of problematic use is recommended.
AB - Objectives: To characterize Internet and social media use among adults with moderate to severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) and to compare demographic and socioeconomic factors associated with Internet use between those with and without TBI. Setting: Ten Traumatic Brain Injury Model Systems centers. Participants: Persons with moderate to severe TBI (N = 337) enrolled in the TBI Model Systems National Database and eligible for follow-up from April 1, 2014, to March 31, 2015. Design: Prospective cross-sectional observational cohort study. Main Measures: Internet usage survey. Results: The proportion of Internet users with TBI was high (74%) but significantly lower than those in the general population (84%). Smartphones were the most prevalent means of Internet access for persons with TBI. The majority of Internet users with TBI had a profile account on a social networking site (79%), with more than half of the sample reporting multiplatform use of 2 or more social networking sites. Conclusion: Despite the prevalence of Internet use among persons with TBI, technological disparities remain in comparison with the general population. The extent of social media use among persons with TBI demonstrates the potential of these platforms for social engagement and other purposes. However, further research examining the quality of online activities and identifying potential risk factors of problematic use is recommended.
KW - Internet
KW - brain injury
KW - communication
KW - community reintegration
KW - social media
KW - social participation
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U2 - 10.1097/HTR.0000000000000305
DO - 10.1097/HTR.0000000000000305
M3 - Article
C2 - 28422898
AN - SCOPUS:85017575184
SN - 0885-9701
VL - 33
SP - E9-E17
JO - Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation
JF - Journal of Head Trauma Rehabilitation
IS - 1
ER -