Call Light Use in a Traumatic Brain Injury Rehabilitation Hospital

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the frequency of call light and bed alarm usage by persons with Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) in the hospital and to determine whether the use of the call light was appropriate, accidental, or initiated by a family or staff member. Observational data was collected on 40 patients (11 TBI patients and 29 patients with other Acquired Brain Injuries (ABI)). Results revealed low rates of bed alarm and call light usage by patients with TBI, as well as moderate to low correlations between call light usage and other indicators of cognitive status. For further study, it will be necessary to find other ways of determining eligibility for interventions to aid in proper call light usage.