Kentucky (Law Enforcement): TBI Screening

System Group

Law Enforcement

Location

Various Agencies in Kentucky

Purpose/Goal

This pretest/posttest study examined the effectiveness of an online training module that was designed to assist law enforcement officers in differentiating traumatic brain injury (TBI) from alcohol intoxication (AI). Officers must differentiate TBI signs from AI signs during encounters with individuals with TBI in order to respond appropriately, yet they receive little training in TBI. This skill is important because many signs of TBI and AI mimic one another and distinguishing them under stressful conditions can be problematic. The increased number of veterans who have returned from Iraq and Afghanistan with TBI increases the likelihood of unnecessary and unfortunate confrontations between individuals with TBI and law enforcement officers. (Nale & Shackelford, 2016)

What tool was used?

The first section presented are encounter scenario between a law enforcement officer and a suspicious person in which numerous signs of possible TBI were described. Participants were then asked to indicate how many signs of TBI were present (one to two signs, three to five signs, six or more signs, or not sure). The second section consisted of a grid listing 19 signs of TBI and/or AI. For each sign, the participants were required to indicate if the sign showed AI, TBI, or both AI and TBI. (Nale & Shackelford, 2016)

When is screening done?

N/A

What happens after screening?

N/A

Who Conducted Screening?

N/A

Tracking

Data was collected through Qualtrics, an online matrix service. In order to maintain participant anonymity, survey responses were automatically entered into a database with a computer-generated PIN number.

Analysis was completed using SPSS 21. Data were recorded so that higher numbers reflected higher levels of variables (such as experience and training frequency), with unsure or incorrect responses coded as 0. (Nale & Shackelford, 2016)

Findings.

Results showed a statistically significant increase in total posttest scores, suggesting that the training was effective. Officers reported little TBI training, and career experience was not associated with higher pretest scores. (Nale & Shackelford, 2016)

Report findings were extensive and cannot be added as PDF’s to our site. Please submit a request at the link above and we will send the report(s) via email within 24-48 business hours.

Information and Referrals

N/A

Trainings

Participants were typically able to complete the tests and training module within a 30-min time period. Due to law enforcement agency administrator
concerns regarding officer availability and time required to complete the training module, an effort was made to limit the length and complexity of the tests and the training content.

The online training module was effective in facilitating officer differentiation of AI and TBI signs. The training assessed in this study was a 30- min online module, which was highly accessible and convenient for officers but was very brief. An expanded training exercise would allow for additional content that would be more comprehensive, relevant, and beneficial. (Nale & Shackelford, 2016)

Name

Brain Injury Alliance of Kentucky

E-mail

info@biak.us

Website

https://biak.us/

Phone Number

502-493-0609

N/A

N/A

Information was acquired through online published report.

Nale, S., & Shackelford, J. (2016). Training law enforcement officers to differentiate traumatic brain injury from alcohol intoxication. Contemporary Issues in Communication Science and Disorders, 43, 154-163. doi:1092-5171/16/4301-0154