Aotearoa New Zealand Physiotherapists’ Perspectives of Potential Expanded Roles for Sports-Related Concussion Management: A Qualitative Study

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aut.relation.issue2
aut.relation.journalNew Zealand Journal of Physiotherapy
aut.relation.volume52
dc.contributor.authorDalton, Mya
dc.contributor.authorGalea, Olivia
dc.contributor.authorBlyth, Rebecca
dc.contributor.authorReid, Duncan
dc.contributor.authorQuinn, Dusty
dc.contributor.authorChua, Jason
dc.contributor.authorSole, Gisela
dc.date.accessioned2024-07-30T23:21:16Z
dc.date.available2024-07-30T23:21:16Z
dc.date.issued2024-07-26
dc.description.abstractConcussions (mild traumatic head injury) have received increasing attention in clinical practice, research, and the public press. A range of healthcare providers engage with patients presenting with concussion, and physiotherapists are often at the front line of these consultations, especially on the sports field. We explored physiotherapists’ perspectives of their scope of practice and actual clinical practice within the sports-related concussion diagnosis and return-to-sport context. A qualitative approach with interviews and focus groups was used, including 18 physiotherapists. Three themes were derived: (a) delayed access to concussiontrained general practitioners; (b) navigating concussion care in a strained healthcare system; and (c) proposed expanded role for physiotherapists. Delayed patient access to medical doctors often delayed a formal concussion diagnosis, initiation of specific concussion care, or medical sports clearance. Yet the participants were regularly identifying and managing concussions, and most felt confident to do so. Some participants, particularly those working with high-performance athletes or in multidisciplinary teams, suggested that concussion diagnosis and clearance for return to work or play should remain the medical doctors’ responsibilities. Yet participants working at community level suggested that, with relevant training and mentored experience, diagnosis, triaging, and clearance for sport could be within their scope of practice.
dc.identifier.citationNew Zealand Journal of Physiotherapy, ISSN: 0303-7193 (Print); 2230-4886 (Online), Physiotherapy New Zealand, 52(2). doi: 10.15619/nzjp.v52i2.390
dc.identifier.doi10.15619/nzjp.v52i2.390
dc.identifier.issn0303-7193
dc.identifier.issn2230-4886
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10292/17837
dc.publisherPhysiotherapy New Zealand
dc.relation.urihttps://nzjp.org.nz/nzjp/article/view/390
dc.rightsThe New Zealand Journal of Physiotherapy is registered on Scopus, and since 2012, has offered Open Access publication of all content. Present and future journal articles are freely accessible as well as past journals that have been published from 2012 onwards. There are no author fees for publication.
dc.rights.accessrightsOpenAccess
dc.subject1103 Clinical Sciences
dc.subject4201 Allied health and rehabilitation science
dc.titleAotearoa New Zealand Physiotherapists’ Perspectives of Potential Expanded Roles for Sports-Related Concussion Management: A Qualitative Study
dc.typeJournal Article
pubs.elements-id563946
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