Abstract
Objectives
To explore the experiences of women with acquired brain injury (ABI) to gain greater
insight into their general and sex- and gender-specific health and well-being concerns,
and to identify areas for future research.
Design
A qualitative pilot study using interpretive description methodology and a sex-and
gender-based analysis of data collected through focus groups.
Setting
Community.
Participants
A sample of survivors, and formal and informal caregivers of women with ABI (N=16).
Interventions
Not applicable.
Main Outcome Measures
Not applicable.
Results
Participants identified significant barriers to achieving optimal health and well-being
for women survivors of ABI, including a lack of knowledgeable professionals. We identify
3 interrelated themes: (1) experiences shaped by gender norms and roles; (2) experiences
influenced by physiological phenomena, including perceived hormone imbalances; and
(3) experiences surrounding interpersonal relationships and sexuality.
Conclusions
Post-ABI care should include education about the influences of sex and gender on health
and well-being. Acknowledging the impact of gendered roles, and the broader sociopolitical
context of gender and disability, is important to develop appropriate services and
supports after ABI. Incorporating effective communication strategies between patient
and health care professional can also be a potent rehabilitation strategy.
Keywords
List of abbreviations:
ABI (acquired brain injury), WLE (woman with lived experience)To read this article in full you will need to make a payment
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: February 06, 2015
Footnotes
Supported by the Ontario Neurotrauma Foundation and the Toronto Rehabilitation Institute through a grant from the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care; the Canadian Institutes of Health Research Chair in Gender, Work and Health (grant no. CGW-126580); and the Saunderson Family Chair in Acquired Brain Injury Research at the Toronto Rehabilitation Institute-UHN.
Publication of this article was supported by the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine.
Disclosures: none.
Identification
Copyright
© 2016 American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
