Official websites use. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. E-mail: Georgina. Mann uwa. At discharge, there were no differences in goal attainment, psychosocial function or functional independence between men and women.
Being partnered predicted reduced LOS for women but not men. At admission to rehabilitation and disability support services for acquired brain injury, women have poorer functional independence and higher risk of multiple episodes of care, compared with men, suggesting greater disability in the community. By the time of discharge from these services, women and men make equivalent functional and psychosocial gains. The higher risk of multiple episodes of care for women relative to men suggest women may need additional post-discharge support, to avoid readmission.
Acquired brain injury is associated with long-term consequences for health and wellbeing. Despite this, relatively little research has examined sex and gender differences in patterns of service use, functional and psychosocial outcomes, and risk of death in post-acute care for acquired brain injury.
This study evaluates the admission and discharge characteristics of 1, adults with acquired brain injury. Findings indicate that, while women present with poorer functional independence at admission, post-acute care for acquired brain injury provides opportunities for equivalent functional and psychosocial gains for men and women. Women are at higher risk of requiring multiple episodes of care, compared with men, and women in some groups have a longer length of stay in post-acute care than men, although they are at no greater risk of death during care.
This indicates that additional post-discharge support may be required for women with acquired brain injury, but that post-acute care supports both men and women to make meaningful functional improvements. Key words: brain injuries, gender, sex, neurological rehabilitation, functional independence. Acquired brain injury ABI is a common phenomenon, with estimates suggesting 1 in 45 Australians have an ABI that limits their abilities 1. For many, these limitations are long-term, requiring ongoing medical and social support 2 and rehabilitation 3 β 8.
