Participation in contact sports, such as Australian Football, poses a risk of injury including concussion. While guidelines have been developed and recommended for the diagnosis and management of sports-related concussion in Australian Football, challenges with compliance remain at both elite and community levels. The study aims were to explore the following among professional and community Australian football male and female players:
- Player knowledge and attitudes about concussion, concussion reporting and management, and the 2024 AFL Concussion Guidelines.
- Factors that may influence their concussion attitudes and reporting behaviours — such as sex/gender, age, playing experience, injury history, or other people such as teammates, family, coaches, or club personnel, or media/community.
- Strategies that could address and improve knowledge, attitudes, and promote safter concussion behaviours in the Australian Football context.
In Study 1, we will conduct one-on-one interviews with approximately 10-20 elite players, including at least 50% women. All interviews will be conducted by trained research personnel and will be audio recorded and stored in a de-identified manner.
In Study 2a, we will recruit ~300 community players (at least 50% women) to complete an online survey. The AFL will invite clubs to distribute the online survey to players and we will distribute via our existing networks.
In Study 2b, approximately 10-20 community players identified from the survey, will be invited to participate in an interview/focus group.
No studies have evaluated player knowledge, perceptions, and attitudes towards SRC, or management/guidelines related to SRC in elite-level Australian Football. In community-level Australian Football, the evidence related to player perceptions of SRC, and factors related to guideline compliance is nearly a decade old.
Findings from this project can inform (i) education and training for elite and community level players, (ii) strategies to disseminate information, and/or (iii) insights to inform, update and adapt the guidelines to optimise receptiveness and overall uptake. The consideration of sociodemographic and contextual factors in this study may facilitate tailored dissemination and implementation strategies.
