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‘I’ve got to row the boat on my own, more or less’: aboriginal australian experiences of traumatic brain injury

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 July 2019

Elizabeth Armstrong Open the ORCID record for Elizabeth Armstrong [Opens in a new window] ,
Juli Coffin ,
Meaghan McAllister ,
Deborah Hersh ,
Judith M. Katzenellenbogen ,
Sandra C. Thompson ,
Natalie Ciccone ,
Leon Flicker ,
Natasha Cross  and
Linda Arabi
...Show all authors
Elizabeth Armstrong*
Affiliation:
School of Medical & Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
Juli Coffin
Affiliation:
Nulungu Research Institute, Notre Dame University, Broome, Western Australia, Australia
Meaghan McAllister
Affiliation:
School of Medical & Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
Deborah Hersh
Affiliation:
School of Medical & Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
Judith M. Katzenellenbogen
Affiliation:
School of Population and Global Health, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia Telethon Institute for Child Health Research, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
Sandra C. Thompson
Affiliation:
Western Australian Centre for Rural Health, University of Western Australia, Geraldton, Western Australia, Australia
Natalie Ciccone
Affiliation:
School of Medical & Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
Leon Flicker
Affiliation:
Centre for Medical Research, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
Natasha Cross
Affiliation:
School of Medical & Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
Linda Arabi
Affiliation:
School of Medical & Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
Deborah Woods
Affiliation:
Geraldton Regional Aboriginal Medical Service, Geraldton, Western Australia, Australia
Colleen Hayward
Affiliation:
Kurongkurl Katitjin, Centre for Indigenous Australian Education and Research, Edith Cowan University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
*
*Corresponding author. Email: b.armstrong@ecu.edu.au
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Abstract

Background:

The overarching cultural context of the brain injury survivor, particularly that related to minority peoples with a history of colonisation and discrimination, has rarely been referred to in the research literature, despite profoundly influencing a person’s recovery journey in significant ways, including access to services. This study highlights issues faced by Australian Aboriginal traumatic brain injury (TBI) survivors in terms of real-life consequences of the high incidence of TBI in this population, current treatment and long-term challenges.

Method:

A case study approach utilised qualitative interview and file review data related to five male Aboriginal TBI survivors diagnosed with acquired communication disorders. The five TBI survivors were from diverse areas of rural and remote Western Australia, aged between 19 and 48 years at the time of injury, with a range of severity.

Case Reports:

Common themes included: significant long-term life changes; short-term and long-term dislocation from family and country as medical intervention and rehabilitation were undertaken away from the person’s rural/remote home; family adjustments to the TBI including permanent re-location to a metropolitan area to be with their family member in residential care; challenges related to lack of formal rehabilitation services in rural areas; poor communication channels; poor cultural security of services; and lack of consistent follow-up.

Discussion and Conclusion:

These case reports represent some of the first documented stories of Aboriginal Australian TBI survivors. They supplement available epidemiological data and highlight different contexts for Aboriginal people after TBI, contributing to an overall profile that is relevant for rehabilitation service planning.

Keywords

AboriginalIndigenoustraumatic brain injuryacquired communication disorderrehabilitationhealth worker
Type
Articles
Information
Brain Impairment , Volume 20 , Special Issue 2: Brain Impairment in Indigenous Populations , September 2019 , pp. 120 - 136
Copyright
© Australasian Society for the Study of Brain Impairment 2019 

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