Examining Injury Among Indigenous Young People: A Narrative Scoping Review

Abstract

Indigenous young people of circumpolar developed countries experience a disproportionate incidence of injury compared with non-Indigenous young people. Much has been published about the experience of injury within the general Indigenous population, but literature is limited with regard to Indigenous young people. Trauma nurses, who are important members of the multidisciplinary team that provides injury intervention to Indigenous populations, need to be aware of this literature, as well as subsequent research gaps, to provide effective care to Indigenous young people experiencing injury. The purpose of this study was to provide an updated comprehensive review of the research-based evidence related to all-cause injury for Indigenous young people. An exploratory scoping review was conducted with a narrative synthesis. To locate literature, 7 electronic databases were searched from 2003 to 2017. Criteria were applied to all located articles to determine inclusion and then data were extracted from each study's findings. A total of 15 studies were included in this review that met the inclusion criteria. Themes derived from the knowledge synthesis process are as follows: incidence rates, mechanisms of injury, risk factors, and gaps in research. A strong epidemiological focus has emerged from the research found in this review of injury among Indigenous young people. The results of this review serve as a starting point for trauma nurses to successfully assess, build trusting relationships with, and further research injury among Indigenous young people.