Search

Purpose: Research shows that patients' perceptions of themselves and others, in addition to their understanding of the concept of gender, changes after traumatic brain injury (TBI). Little is known about gendered experiences in TBI and care delivery. This study aims to explore perceptions of gender through life experiences and interactions between adult patients with TBI and their informal caregivers., Materials and Methods: Seven patients with mild and moderate-severe TBI and eight informal caregivers were interviewed. Transcripts were coded and analysed according to Braun and Clarke's thematic analysis. The Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research guidelines were followed in reporting results., Results: The participants described a transformation of their understanding and experiences of gender following the TBI event. Three themes were identified: (1) Gender designations of "man" and "woman" ;( 2) Post-injury performativity of gender ; and (3) Gender in giving and receiving care ., Conclusions: The findings emphasize the importance of raising awareness among researchers and practitioners on gender as a transformative process for patients with TBI and informal caregivers after the injury. The diversity of patient-caregiver experiences and critical needs based on gender call for intervention approaches that mitigate gender disparities in giving and receiving care. Implications for RehabilitationHistorically, rehabilitation of persons with traumatic brain injury has targeted physical and cognitive impairments, with little attention to their gendered demands in the lived environment.Gender prevails in the lived experiences of persons with traumatic brain injury, and their informal caregivers, and in giving and receiving quality care.A major challenge for clinicians is identifying harmful gendered roles, norms, and relations and the affective/behavioral problems they produce to alleviate enduring distress and reduce disability.Rehabilitation interventions focusing on flexible and adaptive responses to gendered demands in the lived environment of persons with traumatic brain injury are timely.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore rehabilitation clinicians' understanding of how sex and gender facilitate or hinder care provided to patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI)., Materials and Methods: Sixteen clinicians from various specialities, attending to patients with TBI from a large rehabilitation hospital in Ontario, Canada, were recruited using purposive sampling. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews and thematic analysis was used to identify reoccurring themes., Results: Three themes that facilitate or hinder care of TBI patients were identified: (1) knowledge and evidence; (2) gender and other aspects of recovery; and (3) family caregiving. Lack of education about the topic and inconsistent scientific evidence limited clinicians' attention to sex and gender topics. Social, financial, and cultural characteristics of patients were considered to be more relevant than their sex and gender. The gendered nature of caregiving and its burden on caregivers' health were acknowledged., Conclusions: Currently, attention to topics of sex and gender as they may influence patients' recovery is limited. However, clinicians are willing to be educated on these topics to enhance rehabilitation care. Further research on the gendered nature of interactions between patient, clinician, and family caregiver during recovery is warranted.IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATIONSex and gender matter for patients undergoing recovery for their traumatic brain injury; however, clinical attention to this topic is limited.Based on the clinicians' perceptions, resources that address patients' psychosocial vulnerabilities should be prioritized (e.g., unequal access to care, financial status, cultural diversity etc.).Clinicians highlighted that psychosocial vulnerability and patients' life roles, before and after injury, are sex and gender specific.Guidelines about sex and gender influences in traumatic brain injury rehabilitation have the potential to enhance clinical practice.