“Martyr or Moaner:” A Qualitative Study of Elite Ladies Gaelic Football and Camogie Players’ Perceptions of Injury Surveillance

Context: Ladies Gaelic Football (LGF) is the fastest growing female sport in Europe and camogie is among the most popular female team sports in Ireland. Intercounty is considered the elite level, with high physical and technical demands that inevitably involve a risk of injury. At the elite level, an injury incidence as high or higher as professional sports such as rugby and soccer has been reported. Inadequate injury surveillance (IS) can be a barrier to effective injury prevention. This study aimed to (i) explore perspectives on IS and (ii) examine perceived barriers and facilitators to injury reporting of elite LGF and camogie players. Design: Qualitative descriptive study. Methods: Six focus groups were conducted with elite LGF (n = 11) and camogie (n = 10) players representing a range of divisions and intercounty panels. Participants outlined their understanding of IS and described IS practices within their teams. Participants completed a written task, noting and discussing perceived barriers and facilitators to injury reporting. Focus groups were audio recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis. Results: Participants’ report of current IS practices for their team echoed closely their interpretation of IS, as the reporting of injury to health care professionals (HCPs) and broader team personnel. Injury reporting was influenced by factors related to the player, the organization, and the environment including player mindset, access to HCPs and club culture. Conclusion: Enhanced and consistent access to appropriate HCPs is deemed key to monitoring and managing injuries. HCPs are central to fostering a culture of openness and trust, critical to facilitate the timely reporting and management of injuries in elite LGF and camogie. The influence of HCPs is powerful in players’ perceptions of barriers and facilitators to reporting and future work should capture their thoughts.