Advancing the health and quality-of-life of girls and women after traumatic brain injury: Workshop summary and recommendations

PURPOSE: To disseminate findings from an international workshop regarding priority issues for girls' and women's health and quality-of-life after sustaining a traumatic brain injury (TBI). METHODS: A workshop was held prior to the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine Conference 2010. The purpose of the workshop was to highlight the unique health issues experienced by women after a TBI, to identify research, education and policy gaps and to develop strategies to promote women's health. Presentations by researchers and consumers as well as large group discussions formed the basis of the recommendations. RESULTS: Twenty researchers, clinicians, consumers and community agency personnel attended from five countries. Significant gaps in service provision in the community were identified as were unique issues for the short- and long-term effects on maturation and ageing, reproductive and sexual health, mental health and life satisfaction. The workshop led to the development of an international task force and recommendations for future directions. CONCLUSION: Women and girls experience unique outcomes after a TBI. The workshop identified research, policy, education and service priorities for the promotion of health and quality-of-life within this population.