New national clinical guidelines and a model of care specific to Australia and New Zealand are set to change treatment of concussion and mild traumatic brain injury.
University of Queensland researchers led the development of the guidelines, along with an education program to help address a ‘knowledge gap’.
Paediatric neurologist, Professor Karen Barlow of UQ’s Child Health Research Centre said about 50 per cent of people with these injuries did not receive the care they needed.
“General practitioners and healthcare practitioners are crucial in concussion care but often lack confidence in managing recovery,’’ she said.
“There is currently a gap in knowledge among clinicians and patients, despite strong evidence-based recommendations for improving concussion outcomes. About 40 per cent of general practitioners don’t feel confident managing concussion when symptoms persist.’’
Each year, about 240,000 people in Australia and New Zealand require medical attention for concussions, at an estimated annual cost of $100 million. Concussion occurs in all age groups, with children and young adults having the highest incidence.
The guideline includes an online toolbox of clinical management algorithms, validated questionnaires and screening tools and linkages to relevant information and tools.
One of the presentations, Best Practice Management of Concussion “mild” TBI will feature at the National Brain Injury Conference in November 2026, being held at University of Technology Sydney.
A call for papers has also been announced for the conference program. The deadline for submissions, that can include multiple presentations and presentations from people with a brain injury, is December 8, 2025.
For more details visit: https://braininjuryconference.com.au