System-Level Changes to Better Support Women Survivors of Intimate Partner Violence and Traumatic Brain Injury

Research Objectives: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) occurring during intimate partner violence (IPV) is a largely unrecognized but significant public health crisis. One in 3 women will experience IPV in their lifetime, up to 75% of whom will sustain a TBI as a result. Our main objectives were to:
(1) Identify key needs, facilitators, and barriers to care for women survivors of IPV presenting with TBI
(2) Cocreate ideas for resources and principles for identification, clinical care, and support for healthcare practitioners who treat women exposed to IPV and TBI.

Design: Data were gathered through small group breakout sessions using semi-structured discussion guides. Sessions were recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using thematic analysis techniques. Stakeholders contributed to the analysis and knowledge translation through member-checking activities.

Setting: The study took place in the community using a community-based participatory research approach, and was conducted through 2 half-day virtual meetings.

Participants: We engaged 30 stakeholders drawn from a national IPV-TBI Knowledge-to-Practice (K2P) Network including diverse women survivors, service providers, researchers, and decision makers.

Interventions: N/A

Main Outcome Measures: N/A

Results: Three main systems-level themes arose during these discussions: (1) the need for trauma-informed, anti-racist, and equitable health and social care systems; (2) the need for cross-pollination of knowledge between disciplines; and (3) the need for systems-level support for integrated and coordinated care. This presentation will explore these needs and will provide recommendations and suggestions for paths forward.

Conclusions: The findings of this project enhance understanding of system-level needs among women survivors and provide a template for a national agenda for IPV-TBI research and practice.

Author(s) Disclosures: The authors declare no conflicts of interest.