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Inclusion of Minorities in Traumatic Brain Injury Rehabilitation and Outcomes Research: Special Issues

About the Webcast

This presentation will begin with an overall introduction to the work of the Rehabilitation and Training Center (RRTC) on Community Integration of Persons with Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). This will be followed by a general overview of the importance of health disparities research and the need for cultural competence in conducting research in the area of TBI. The majority of the presentation will be focused on special issues involved in conducting research with diverse racial/ethnic populations. Topics covered will include obtaining informed consent, building rapport, retaining participants in longitudinal and clinical trials studies, and sensitivity of outcome measures. A recent clinical trial conducted by Center staff will be discussed to illustrate these concepts. Additionally, an ongoing project on diversity in community integration needs will be discussed to highlight the need for sensitive outcome measures.

The RRTC on Community Integration of Persons with TBI includes the mission that all persons with TBI, including traditionally underserved populations, have access to information, resources, and services that maximize participation in their communities and that treating professionals have the necessary information to meet the needs of persons with TBI. In keeping with this mission, a major goal of the Center is to assess and identify community integration needs among traditionally underserved populations, including members of racial/ethnic minority groups and those living in rural areas. Center staff have a 15-year long history of conducting survey research and randomized clinical trials with diverse populations and of producing dissemination materials to meet the needs of persons from diverse racial/ethnic, educational, and socioeconomic backgrounds. Recently, the Center has begun to expand its expertise through collaboration with the Center for Minority Health at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. This collaboration will integrate state of the art knowledge regarding health disparities research with research on community integration in persons with TBI. Further information on the Center, operated by The Institute for Rehabilitation and Research (TIRR) and Baylor College of Medicine, can be reviewed at www.tbicommunity.org.