Given the burden associated with vehicle-related trauma, there is interest in time and cost effective methods of providing information to assist recovery. This systematic review aims to address the question: “Do targeted early information interventions improve outcomes following vehiclerelated injuries for persons of working age?” Ovid Medline, EMBASE, PsychINFO and Cochrane databases were searched for studies published between 1990- April 2011. Included studies were randomised or pseudo-randomised controlled trials of information interventions delivered to working age persons following vehicle-related injuries. Two reviewers independently selected and appraised the studies. Sixteen publications (13 primary studies) met the inclusion criteria and were assessed for bias. Heterogeneity in terms of the information interventions and measured outcomes was encountered. In 4 of the included studies, the intervention was positively associated with at least one outcome reported. Methodological issues limited the conclusions that could be drawn. It is concluded that following vehicle-related trauma, people often experience difficulties in ongoing functioning. The current evidence neither supports nor fails to support the effectiveness of information interventions in promoting injury recovery. There is a need for larger more methodologically and conceptually rigorous randomised controlled trials that better consider the type and timing of the intervention. (Author/publisher)
Abstract