Opportunities for preventing subsequent injuries: a qualitative study exploring perspectives of people who have...

This study aims to examine opportunities for subsequent injury prevention from the perspectives of people who have recently experienced subsequent injury events.

This qualitative study involved individual semi-structured interviews with people who had >2 injury events in the previous 12 months. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and thematic analysis undertaken.

Sixteen interviews were completed with participants who had experienced a range of index and subsequent injury types. Potential opportunities raised were wide-ranging. Some related to individuals, e.g., motivation to carry out prevention strategies. Other opportunities were related to healthcare providers and the health system. For instance, increasing consultation times to allow a focus on subsequent injury prevention, building rapport and tailoring their approach to the individual, proactively referring people to a range of healthcare providers, and ensuring people are aware of resources and supports available following injury. Broader environmental and societal opportunities were also suggested, such as ensuring adequate social support following injury, ensuring accessibility to rehabilitation and community facilities and the modification of built environments.

A broad range of potential opportunities to prevent subsequent injuries were raised. These opportunities are promising and future research to trial interventions raised in this study is warranted to determine their feasibility and effectiveness.