Pac-12 CARE-Affiliated Program: structure, methods and initial results

Sport-related concussion has garnered increasing scientific attention and research over the last decade. Collegiate student-athletes represent an important cohort in this field. As such, the Pac-12 CARE-Affiliated Program (CAP) was formed in 2017 as a regional hub of the Concussion Assessment, Research and Education (CARE) consortium. CAP is multisite, prospective, longitudinal study that aims to improve student-athlete health by identifying factors associated with concussion incidence and recovery and using this knowledge to inform best clinical practices and policy decisions. CAP employed a staggered rollout across the Pac-12, with the first four institutions enrolling in fall 2018. After receiving institutional review board (IRB) approval, these institutions began consenting student-athletes to share clinical concussion and baseline data for research purposes. Athletes completed baseline testing that included a medical questionnaire, concussion history and a battery for clinical concussion assessments. Concussed student-athletes were given the same battery of assessments in addition to full injury and return to play reports. Clinicians at each university worked with a data coordinator to ensure appropriate reporting, and the Pac-12 Concussion Coordinating Unit at the University of Colorado Boulder provided oversight for quality control of the data study wide. During year 1, CAP consented 2181 student-athletes and tracked 140 concussions. All research was conducted with the appropriate IRB approval across the participating Pac-12 institutions. Data security and dissemination are managed by the Presagia Sports Athlete Electronic Health Record software (Montreal, Quebec, Canada) and QuesGen Systems (San Francisco, California, USA).

Download Full-text

MRI in acute muscle tears in athletes: can quantitative T2 and DTI predict return to play better than visual assessment?

European Radiology ◽

10.1007/s00330-020-06999-z ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 30 (12) ◽

pp. 6603-6613

Author(s):

J. D. Biglands ◽

A. J. Grainger ◽

P. Robinson ◽

S. F. Tanner ◽

A. L. Tan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Diffusion Tensor ◽

Mean Diffusivity ◽

Quantitative Mri ◽

Return To Play ◽

Prospective Longitudinal Study ◽

Muscle Tear ◽

Muscle Changes ◽

Prospective Longitudinal ◽

And Diffusion ◽

Mri Measurements

Abstract Objectives To assess the ability of quantitative T2, diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and radiologist’s scores to detect muscle changes following acute muscle tear in soccer and rugby players. To assess the ability of these parameters to predict return to play times. Methods In this prospective, longitudinal study, 13 male athletes (age 19 to 34 years; mean 25 years) underwent MRI within 1 week of suffering acute muscle tear. Imaging included measurements of T2 and DTI parameters. Images were also assessed using modified Peetrons and British athletics muscle injury classification (BAMIC) scores. Participants returned for a second scan within 1 week of being determined fit to return to play. MRI measurements were compared between visits. Pearson’s correlation between visit 1 measurements and return to play times was assessed. Results There were significant differences between visits in BAMIC scores (Z = − 2.088; p = 0.037), modified Peetrons (Z = − 2.530; p = 0.011) and quantitative MRI measurements; T2, 13.12 ms (95% CI, 4.82 ms, 21.42 ms; p = 0.01); mean diffusivity (0.22 (0.04, 0.39); p = 0.02) and fractional anisotropy (0.07 (0.01, 0.14); p = 0.03). BAMIC scores showed a significant correlation with return to play time (Rs = 0.64; p = 0.02), but modified Peetrons scores and quantitative parameters did not. Conclusions T2 and DTI measurements in muscle can detect changes due to healing following muscle tear. Although BAMIC scores correlated well with return to play times, in this small study, quantitative MRI values did not, suggesting that T2 and DTI measurements are inferior predictors of return to play time compared with visual scoring. Key Points • Muscle changes following acute muscle tear can be measured using T2 and diffusion measurements on MRI. • Measurements of T2 and diffusion using MRI are not as good as a radiologist’s visual report at predicting return to play time after acute muscle tear.

Download Full-text

Evaluation of the quality of the teaching-learning process in undergraduate courses in Nursing

Revista Latino-Americana de Enfermagem ◽

10.1590/0104-1169.0393.2606 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 23 (4) ◽

pp. 700-707 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Víctor Manuel González-Chordá ◽

María Loreto Maciá-Soler

Keyword(s):

Nursing Students ◽

Quality Indicators ◽

Undergraduate Students ◽

Learning Process ◽

Assessment Tools ◽

Clinical Practices ◽

Prospective Longitudinal Study ◽

Teaching Learning ◽

Prospective Longitudinal

AbstractObjective: to identify aspects of improvement of the quality of the teaching-learning process through the analysis of tools that evaluated the acquisition of skills by undergraduate students of Nursing.Method: prospective longitudinal study conducted in a population of 60 secondyear Nursing students based on registration data, from which quality indicators that evaluate the acquisition of skills were obtained, with descriptive and inferential analysis.Results: nine items were identified and nine learning activities included in the assessment tools that did not reach the established quality indicators (p<0.05). There are statistically significant differences depending on the hospital and clinical practices unit (p<0.05).Conclusion: the analysis of the evaluation tools used in the article "Nursing Care in Welfare Processes" of the analyzed university undergraduate course enabled the detection of the areas for improvement in the teachinglearning process. The challenge of education in nursing is to reach the best clinical research and educational results, in order to provide improvements to the quality of education and health care.

Download Full-text

Consideration of the Federal Guidelines for Academic Services for Student-Athletes with Sports-Related Concussion

Perspectives on School-Based Issues ◽

10.1044/sbi13.3.70 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 13 (3) ◽

pp. 70-78 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Bess Sirmon-Taylor ◽

Anthony P. Salvatore

Keyword(s):

Student Athletes ◽

Section 504 ◽

Return To Play ◽

Behavioral Deficits ◽

Prevention Education ◽

Concussion Management ◽

School Settings ◽

Definition Of ◽

Federal Guidelines ◽

Academic Services

Abstract Purpose: Federal regulations should be implemented to provide appropriate services for student-athletes who have sustained a concussion, which can result in impaired function in the academic setting. Eligibility guidelines for special education services do not specifically address the significant, but sometimes transient, impairments that can manifest after concussion, which occur in up to 10% of student-athletes. Method: We provide a definition of the word concussion and discuss the eligibility guidelines for traumatic brain injury and other health-impaired under IDEA, as is the use of Section 504. Results: The cognitive-linguistic and behavioral deficits that can occur after concussion can have a significant impact on academic function. We draw comparisons between the clinical presentation of concussion and the eligibility indicators in IDEA and Section 504. Conclusion: Speech-language pathologists are well-positioned to serve on concussion management teams in school settings, providing services including collection of baseline data, intervention and reassessment after a concussion has occurred, prevention education, and legislative advocacy. Until the cultural perception of concussion changes, with increased recognition of the potential consequences, student-athletes are at risk and appropriate implementation of the existing guidelines can assist in preservation of brain function, return to the classroom, and safe return to play.

Download Full-text