Awareness and understanding of concussion among Aboriginal Australians with high health literacy

Aim: Indigenous Australians have higher rates of traumatic brain injury, with 74–90% of such injuries being concussion. This study explores concussion awareness and knowledge in Aboriginal Western Australians with high health literacy. Materials & methods: Participants, aged 18–65 years, engaged...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Trish Hill-Wall, Kahlia McCausland, Elizabeth Thomas, Richard Norman, Jonathan Bullen, Gill Cowen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Aldus Press 2024-04-01
Series:Concussion
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.futuremedicine.com/doi/10.2217/cnc-2023-0012
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849415268546117632
author Trish Hill-Wall
Kahlia McCausland
Elizabeth Thomas
Richard Norman
Jonathan Bullen
Gill Cowen
author_facet Trish Hill-Wall
Kahlia McCausland
Elizabeth Thomas
Richard Norman
Jonathan Bullen
Gill Cowen
author_sort Trish Hill-Wall
collection DOAJ
description Aim: Indigenous Australians have higher rates of traumatic brain injury, with 74–90% of such injuries being concussion. This study explores concussion awareness and knowledge in Aboriginal Western Australians with high health literacy. Materials & methods: Participants, aged 18–65 years, engaged in research topic yarning, and thematic analysis of the qualitative data then undertaken. Results: There was awareness that direct head trauma can result in concussion, but a lack of differentiation between concussion and other head injuries. Knowledge was gained from sport, media or lived-experience. Symptom minimization and diversity of concussion symptoms prevented participants from seeking medical treatment. This was exacerbated by a mistrust of the medical system. Conclusion: Research findings highlight knowledge and service gaps where co-designed strategies can be targeted.
format Article
id doaj-art-57497902a2bd47948ce85edb44f3bef2
institution Kabale University
issn 2056-3299
language English
publishDate 2024-04-01
publisher Aldus Press
record_format Article
series Concussion
spelling doaj-art-57497902a2bd47948ce85edb44f3bef22025-08-20T03:33:35ZengAldus PressConcussion2056-32992024-04-0110.2217/cnc-2023-0012Awareness and understanding of concussion among Aboriginal Australians with high health literacyTrish Hill-Wall0Kahlia McCausland1Elizabeth Thomas2Richard Norman3Jonathan Bullen4Gill Cowen51Moorditj Yorga Scholarship Program, Curtin University, Bentley, 6102, Australia3Curtin School of Population Health, Curtin University, Bentley, 6102, Australia4Centre for Clinical Research Excellence, Curtin University, Bentley, 6102, Australia3Curtin School of Population Health, Curtin University, Bentley, 6102, Australia6Curtin enABle Institute, Curtin University, Bentley, 6102, Australia2Curtin Medical School, Curtin University, Bentley, 6102, AustraliaAim: Indigenous Australians have higher rates of traumatic brain injury, with 74–90% of such injuries being concussion. This study explores concussion awareness and knowledge in Aboriginal Western Australians with high health literacy. Materials & methods: Participants, aged 18–65 years, engaged in research topic yarning, and thematic analysis of the qualitative data then undertaken. Results: There was awareness that direct head trauma can result in concussion, but a lack of differentiation between concussion and other head injuries. Knowledge was gained from sport, media or lived-experience. Symptom minimization and diversity of concussion symptoms prevented participants from seeking medical treatment. This was exacerbated by a mistrust of the medical system. Conclusion: Research findings highlight knowledge and service gaps where co-designed strategies can be targeted.https://www.futuremedicine.com/doi/10.2217/cnc-2023-0012AboriginalconcussionFirst Nationsindigenousmild traumatic brain injurymTBI
spellingShingle Trish Hill-Wall
Kahlia McCausland
Elizabeth Thomas
Richard Norman
Jonathan Bullen
Gill Cowen
Awareness and understanding of concussion among Aboriginal Australians with high health literacy
Concussion
Aboriginal
concussion
First Nations
indigenous
mild traumatic brain injury
mTBI
title Awareness and understanding of concussion among Aboriginal Australians with high health literacy
title_full Awareness and understanding of concussion among Aboriginal Australians with high health literacy
title_fullStr Awareness and understanding of concussion among Aboriginal Australians with high health literacy
title_full_unstemmed Awareness and understanding of concussion among Aboriginal Australians with high health literacy
title_short Awareness and understanding of concussion among Aboriginal Australians with high health literacy
title_sort awareness and understanding of concussion among aboriginal australians with high health literacy
topic Aboriginal
concussion
First Nations
indigenous
mild traumatic brain injury
mTBI
url https://www.futuremedicine.com/doi/10.2217/cnc-2023-0012
work_keys_str_mv AT trishhillwall awarenessandunderstandingofconcussionamongaboriginalaustralianswithhighhealthliteracy
AT kahliamccausland awarenessandunderstandingofconcussionamongaboriginalaustralianswithhighhealthliteracy
AT elizabeththomas awarenessandunderstandingofconcussionamongaboriginalaustralianswithhighhealthliteracy
AT richardnorman awarenessandunderstandingofconcussionamongaboriginalaustralianswithhighhealthliteracy
AT jonathanbullen awarenessandunderstandingofconcussionamongaboriginalaustralianswithhighhealthliteracy
AT gillcowen awarenessandunderstandingofconcussionamongaboriginalaustralianswithhighhealthliteracy