Delegation of the research group 'No one between shore and ship' speaks at the World Congress IBIA in Dublin
12 May 2023A delegation of the research group 'No one between shore and ship' has proudly and gratefully presented the latest developments in the field of appropriate care for people with severe ABI, in particular a long-term disorder of consciousness (LBS), at the World Congress on Brain Injury of the International Brain Injury Association (IBIA) in Dublin.
Already during the preconference, EENnacoma was mentioned by the chairman of the session as an example for other countries. During a one-and-a-half-hour symposium on 1 April, Dr Jan Lavrijsen presented the unique care chain for people with LBS and the most recent developments. Willemijn van Erp focused on the development of a Mobile Expert Team for people with LBS. Conny Span presented the latest research into the experiences of loved ones and Berno Overbeek revealed the results of the first research into the size and characteristics of people in a minimally conscious state.
In addition, Willemijn van Erp was one of the speakers in an international session on national services and programs for patients with long-term LBS. Although countries provide access to the same scientific evidence, patients with LBS receive different types and quality of care around the world. Willemijn writes afterwards on LinkedIn: 'I am convinced that staying in touch with our international community can help professionals and experts by experience to move towards evidence-based, personalized and sustainable care everywhere'.
Roy Kohnen presented his PhD research on conscious people with severe acquired brain injury in Dutch nursing homes. His first presentation was about sexually disinhibited behavior and his second about neuropsychiatric symptoms in general and the triggering factors.
The Dutch symposium on LBS has already built a bridge to the ongoing research by geriatric specialist Manju Sharma-Virk and rehabilitation doctor Daniëlle Driessen, both present in the room. The results of their research into outcomes and impact of intensive neurorehabilitation in people with LBS are awaited. A great opportunity to present that in 2 years at the next IBIA congress in Montreal.
During this world congress, it also became clear how special the Dutch situation is in the connection of appropriate care (chain) and research from an expertise network after the hospital phase, in particular long-term care. The lessons learned can now also be widely shared for application in other countries or regions.