New WA research aims to better understand the experiences of concussion among people living in regional communities.
The Australian Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Study (AUS-mTBI) and Curtin University researchers have teamed up with the WA Country Health Service (WACHS) to broaden the study’s reach into rural and remote areas.
Patients at selected WACHS hospitals and health centres will be asked if they would like to participate in the study and access support in their concussion recovery.
Participants in the study will use HeadCheck, a free online concussion recovery app, to track their symptoms and guide their recovery over 12 months or until symptoms resolve.
The app will be refined based on data collected through the study, which will help create personalised care plans for each participant.
Researchers will apply machine learning techniques to develop a predictive model that can identify individuals at risk of delayed recovery.
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Curtin University deputy vice-chancellor of research Professor Melinda Fitzgerald, also of the Perron Institute, said previous studies have largely focused on sports-related concussion – particularly in young athletes.
“This study will fill a crucial gap by focusing on how concussion also impacts individuals in the general population,” she said.
More than 180,000 concussions are likely experienced in Australia each year, with approximately 30% of individuals experiencing ongoing, often debilitating symptoms that affect their health, lifestyle, and work.
A significant number of people who experience concussions don’t seek medical care, creating a knowledge gap about brain injury recovery in everyday Australians.
“We aim to understand the factors that predict delayed recovery from concussion, which will allow us to provide more timely and personalised care for those at greatest risk,” Prof Fitzgerald said.
She said it was hoped this would ultimately improve patient outcomes and reduce the “community burden” of concussion.
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WACHS executive director strategy Melissa Vernon said it was important that people in country communities had the opportunity to contribute to and benefit from this research.
People experiencing concussion in the past 14 days are encouraged to download HeadCheck and participate in the AUS-mTBI Study.
Further information can be found on the Connectivity Traumatic Brain Injury Australia website.
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