Knowledge, familiarity and discrimination toward acquired brain injury in Chile: findings from the public, general practitioners and neurorehabilitation professionals.

Background: Stigma toward acquired brain injury (ABI) is often driven by a lack of knowledge and familiarity, which may reduce willingness to interact with survivors, affecting their well-being and recovery.

Methods: This study explored the relationship between ABI knowledge, familiarity, and willingness to interact among the general public (n = 308), general practitioners (n = 105), and neurorehabilitation professionals (n = 123). A cross-sectional survey of 536 participants assessed knowledge (Common Misconceptions About Traumatic Brain Injury Questionnaire), familiarity (Familiarity Scale), and willingness to interact (Social Interaction Scale). Data were analyzed using Rasch modeling, principal component analysis, non-parametric tests, and a multivariate linear model.

Results: Knowledge and familiarity explained a small yet significant portion of the variance in willingness to interact. Misconceptions were most common in the general public, yet general practitioners and rehabilitation professionals also showed gaps in understanding invisible impairments, and recovery. Rehabilitation professionals had the highest work-related familiarity, while general practitioners showed the highest willingness to interact.

Discussion: Findings highlight the need for psychoeducation and contact-based interventions to reduce misconceptions and improve attitudes toward ABI survivors. Enhancing knowledge and familiarity may help reduce stigma, emphasizing the importance of further research and targeted interventions.