Exploring the perceptions and experiences of concussion reporting in Australian women's collision sport athletes through qualitative inquiry.

Abstract

Objectives: Sport-related concussions are often unreported by athletes. This may lead to insufficient medical treatment and negative health effects. Reporting sport-related concussion symptoms is context-dependent and influenced by factors such as sex, sporting code, and culture. Women may have unique experiences of sport-related concussions and reporting compared with men. However, these experiences of women athletes have not been explored in an Australian context. This study aimed to identify enablers and barriers to sport-related concussion reporting amongst Australian women competing in collision sports, informing initiatives to support safe participation.

Design: Qualitative study.

Methods: Semi-structured interviews explored experiences with sport-related concussion disclosure within the context of Australian women's collision team-sports. Interview questions were informed by the Theoretical Domains Framework. Thematic analysis occurred via deductive coding of responses to Theoretical Domains Framework domains, followed by inductive coding within each domain. Interviews were conducted until thematic saturation was reached.

Results: Twelve adult women competing in Australian collision sports were interviewed. One overarching theme (procedural tension) and three main themes (validation pressure, injury hierarchy, and conflicted cultural logics) were identified. The themes highlighted how gender-related factors interact with sport-specific norms in the context of playing sport and reporting sport-related concussions in Australia.

Conclusions: Concussion reporting is multidimensional and influenced by micro, meso, and macro level factors. Factors have been identified that could be targeted by interventions aimed at improving sport-related concussion reporting amongst non-professional divisions of this population. These findings highlight implications, including strengthening recruitment, fostering team-level reporting norms, and addressing status quo practices at the club level.