Is it prime time for sex and gender considerations in traumatic brain injury? Perspectives of rehabilitation care professionals

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.