Role of Physiotherapy in Ugandan Neurosurgical Transitional Care (2022-2023)

Neurotrauma related to road traffic injury is a leading cause of admission to Ugandan hospitals. These patients often experience physical and cognitive impairments that require incorporating rehabilitation after hospital discharge. Careful coordination of rehabilitation services during the hospital-to-community transition is crucial to quality patient care. 

In Uganda, rehabilitation is an emerging healthcare service. The extent of availability and accommodation of outpatient rehabilitation as well as the patient barriers to seeking, reaching and engaging in these services is unknown. An international approach to determine rehabilitation’s role in discharge planning for neurosurgical patients in Uganda could help inform the development of transitional care models in other emerging health systems. 

This project team used a combination of literature review, public data and stakeholder interviews to examine current and emerging post-hospital rehabilitation resources for traumatic brain injury (TBI) or new spinal cord injury (SCI) patients and identify patient/caregiver barriers and facilitators to accessing these resources. Long-term, this project aims to develop a culturally appropriate protocol for rehabilitation involvement in hospital discharge planning of TBI and SCI patients in Uganda.

Timing

Summer 2022 – Summer 2023

Team Outputs

Transitional Care for Ugandan TBI Patients (2023 Fortin Foundation Bass Connections Virtual Showcase)

Outpatient Physiotherapy Service Availability & Utilization in Ugandan Transitional Care for Traumatic Brain Injury: A Mixed-Methods Study Protocol (poster by Lizzy Davidson, Amy Fulton, Emilie Lijesen, Vignesh Pirapaharan, Felix Ahurira, Ricky Kasheija, Catherine Kemirembe, Florence Namiriru, Kearsley Stewart, Tony Fuller and Kira Bullock, presented at Fortin Foundation Bass Connections Showcase, Duke University, April 19, 2023)

Role of Physiotherapy in Ugandan Neurosurgical Transitional Care (Lizzie Davidson and Vignesh Pirapaharan, lightning talk at Fortin Foundation Bass Connections Showcase, Duke University, April 19, 2023)

This Team in the News

Meet Some of the Teams at the Bass Connections Showcase

Bass Connections Teams Share Research Highlights at 2023 Showcase

See related teams, Role of Physiotherapy in Ugandan Neurosurgical Transitional Care (2023-2024) and Role of Physiotherapy in Ugandan Neurosurgical Transitional Care (2021-2022).

 

Image: Traffic in Kampala, by flöschen, licensed under CC BY 2.0

Traffic in Kampala.

Team Leaders

  • Kira Battle, School of Medicine-Neurosurgery
  • Anthony Fuller, School of Medicine-Neurosurgery
  • Damascene Niyonsenga, Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST)

/undergraduate Team Members

  • Elizabeth Davidson, Biology (BS)
  • Julia Davis, Neuroscience (BS)
  • Amy Fulton, Neuroscience (AB)
  • Emilie Lijesen, Neuroscience (BS)
  • Vignesh Pirapaharan, Biology (BS)

/yfaculty/staff Team Members

  • Jeffrey Hoder, School of Medicine-Family Medicine and Community Health: Doctor of Physical Therapy
  • Kearsley Stewart, Duke Global Health Institute

/zcommunity Team Members

  • Wilfred Arubaku, Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST)
  • Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital (MRRH)
  • Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST)
  • Mulago National Referral Hospital
  • Ahurira Felix, Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST)
  • Ricky Kasaija, Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST)
  • Richard Kasiita, Mulago National Referral Hospital (MNRH)
  • Herman Kazibwe, Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST)
  • Catherine Kemirembe, Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST)
  • Florence Namirimu, Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST)

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