Understanding the Level of Concussion Knowledge in High School Sports in New Jersey

Abstract

Background Coaches, athletic trainers (ATCs), and parents/guardians (parents) are important contributors to the proper identification and management of concussions in student‐athletes. However, there are limited studies on the identification of concussion knowledge gaps that will help inform educational efforts and improve concussion outcomes in these groups. Objective To identify gaps and factors influencing concussion knowledge for high school athletics. Design Survey. Setting Public, private, and recreational leagues in New Jersey. Participants 41 coaches, 34 ATCs, and 65 parents of high school student‐athletes. Methods A 17‐item online survey examining concussion knowledge was distributed to coaches, ATCs, and parents. Analyses included ANOVA for between‐group comparisons of continuous variables and Pearson's correlations for categorical data. Main Outcome Measurements Demographics, concussion knowledge, application of knowledge, access to educational materials, and confidence in the ability to identify concussions. Results Significant between‐group differences were found for overall knowledge (F[2137] = 11.0, P < .001), factual knowledge (F[2137] = 8.7, P < .001), and application of knowledge (F[2137] = 3.5, P = .03), with parents scoring lower. Coaches, ATCs, and parents had gaps in factual knowledge of baseline testing scores and identification regarding symptom severity. More coaches (73.2%) and ATCs (97.1%) felt confident in concussion knowledge compared with parents (31.3%; P < .001). All groups thought mandatory education, new law, and guidelines were positive in promoting better care of student‐athletes. Conclusions Knowledge gaps were identified in all groups. Educational programs for these groups should consider including targeted techniques, including vignettes, to illustrate application of concussion knowledge. Level of Evidence III.

Assessment of the Understanding of Concussion and Care Protocols Amongst Student Athletes and Coaches: A Qualitative Study

“…McLeod et al ( 10 ) found that, while coaches could identify overt symptoms of concussion, they could not identify more subtle signs and symptoms such as sleep disturbances and vision problems. Lin et al ( 18 ) also found similar knowledge gaps about concussions. Both studies advocate for more specific education on concussion.…”

“…As for coaches, McLeod et al (10) and Lin et al (18) both reported that while coaches were knowledgeable, further education was necessary. McLeod et al (10) found that, while coaches could identify overt symptoms of concussion, they could not identify more subtle signs and symptoms such as sleep disturbances and vision problems.…”

Concussion Knowledge and Self-Reported Behaviors in Youth Rugby Players and Their Coaches: A Population-Wide Cross-Sectional Survey

“…We conducted a cross-sectional, population-based, survey study including both youth rugby athletes and their coaches of the Veneto region, the Italian region with the highest rate of youth rugby participation. For each of these 2 target populations, an online questionnaire was developed based on previous studies assessing concussion knowledge and behaviors among youth athletes 14,19,[21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28] and their coaches, 11,[15][16][17]29,30 involved in different types of sport. Questionnaires were developed in Italian by 2 authors (M.B.…”

“…Nonetheless, concussion management and compliance with return-to-play (RTP) guidelines remain suboptimal among both athletes and coaches, even within these countries. [11][12][13][14][15][16][17] Thus, in countries where such policies are missing or limited, it is likely that awareness of appropriate management and compliance with RTP guidelines are even less than suboptimal. This is particularly concerning for countries where contact sports are highly practiced, such as Italy.…”

“…Nonetheless, concussion management and compliance with return-to-play (RTP) guidelines remain suboptimal among both athletes and coaches, even within these countries. 11–17…”