A thematic analysis of patients’ and their informal caregivers’ gendered experiences in traumatic brain injury
Creators: name: Baldeo, Navindra
name: D’Souza, Andrea
name: Haag, Halina
name: Hanafy, Sara
name: Quilico, Enrico
name: Archambault, Patrick
name: Colquhoun, Heather
name: Lewko, John
name: Riopelle, Richard
name: Colantonio, Angela
name: Mollayeva, Tatyana
Publisher: name: Taylor & Francis
Year: 2022
Subjects: subject: Medicine
subject: Neuroscience
subject: Biotechnology
subject: Sociology
subject: FOS: Sociology
subject: 69999 Biological Sciences not elsewhere classified
subject: FOS: Biological sciences
subject: Science Policy
subject: 111714 Mental Health
subject: FOS: Health sciences

description: 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. 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. The participants described a transformation of their understanding and experiences of gender following the TBI event. Three themes were identified: (1) <i>Gender designations of "man" and "woman"</i>;( 2) <i>Post-injury performativity of gender</i>; and (3) <i>Gender in giving and receiving care</i>. 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. Historically, 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.