Common misconceptions about traumatic brain injury among ethnic minorities with TBI.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate common TBI misconceptions among ethnic minorities with TBI.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study.


METHODS
Level I trauma center.


METHODS
Fifty-eight persons with TBI (28 black and 30 Hispanic) discharged from the neurosurgery unit and living in the community.


METHODS
Forty-item Common Misconceptions about Traumatic Brain Injury Questionnaire (CM-TBI).


RESULTS
Participants displayed misconceptions about approximately one-third of the 40 items, most regarding amnesia and recovery. Fewer misconceptions were found in the brain damage/injury and sequelae categories. A greater percentage of TBI misconceptions was associated with having lower education, actively practicing religion, being Spanish-speaking and non-US born. After controlling for education and actively practicing religion, Spanish-speaking Hispanics reported a greater percentage of misconceptions than English-speaking Hispanics and blacks.


CONCLUSIONS
Understanding common TBI misconceptions can assist rehabilitation staff in tailoring education programs for racial/ethnic minorities including those who are Spanish-speaking. Educational attainment and cultural factors should be considered when developing educational interventions for persons with TBI from diverse backgrounds. Inaccurate information regarding TBI, especially the recovery process, may hinder treatment planning by rehabilitation professionals and may result in disappointment and the setting of unrealistic goals for persons with injury and their families.
Pappadis
Monique R
MR
Brain Injury Research Center, TIRR Memorial Hermann, Houston, Texas 77019, USA. monique.pappadis@memorialhermann.org
Sander
Angelle M
AM
Struchen
Margaret A
MA
Leung
Patrick
P
Smith
Dennis W
DW
D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000368:Aged; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008913:Minority Groups / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011379:Prognosis; D020127:Recovery of Function; D018570:Risk Assessment; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055990:Therapeutic Misconception; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014481:United States; D055815:Young Adult