Gaps identified in knowledge about recovery after traumatic brain injury among people living in Australia

Objective To assess traumatic brain injury knowledge levels in Australia. Design A cross-sectional study using the modified Common Misconceptions about Traumatic Brain Injury questionnaire to assess knowledge of traumatic brain injury. Setting Data were collected from Australians enrolled in the Understanding Traumatic Brain Injury Massive Open Online Course between August 2023 and March 2025. Participants A total of 1484 respondents with varying educational backgrounds, caregiving experience, lived experience of traumatic brain injury, and prior traumatic brain injury education. Main measures Knowledge was assessed across three domains: Perceptions of concussion , Emotional and behavioral changes , and Recovery after traumatic brain injury . Scores were compared across demographic, educational, caregiving, or lived experience groups. Results Greater knowledge was associated with prior traumatic brain injury education, tertiary qualifications, paid caregiving roles, or English-speaking backgrounds. Across all groups, knowledge was highest for Perceptions of concussion and lowest for Recovery after traumatic brain injury . Knowledge also differed by experience, where individuals with lived experience demonstrated lower knowledge scores, whereas those who knew someone with a traumatic brain injury demonstrated higher scores. Conclusions The limited knowledge of recovery after traumatic brain injury observed in this Australian cohort aligns with international evidence demonstrating persistent misconceptions about recovery and long-term outcomes. These findings suggest that recovery-related knowledge gaps are a global issue that may affect help-seeking, care navigation, and rehabilitation engagement, highlighting the need for targeted educational initiatives worldwide.