Blowing the Whistle on Concussion Knowledge and Education in Youth Sport Referees

Abstract Objective The study objective was to examine parental knowledge of, and attitudes towards, youth sport-related concussion in a Canadian sample. Method A community sample of seventy-six families (n = 120 children) completed the study questionnaire comprised of demographic and sport history information, as well as questions about concussion knowledge (factual and perceived) and attitudes (i.e. concussion management and treatment attitudes). All participants had children actively involved in sport. Predominantly mothers completed the questionnaire (74%), and families ranged from one-to-three children (M age = 9 yr 5mth, SD = 2 yr 11mth). Results On average, parents achieved 76% accuracy on factual concussion knowledge (M = 21.19, SD = 2.55), with the majority (75%) perceiving their responses as accurate (perceived knowledge). Most parents displayed a favourable attitude toward concussion reporting and management (54/63; 85.7%). Families with low social risk status (SRS) had higher perceived knowledge compared to families with high SRS (t(60) = 2.29, p = .026), but not actual knowledge (p = .87). Mixed linear regression models were used to examine relationships between sociodemographic factors and concussion knowledge and attitudes. Higher SRS (F(1,74) = 9.60, p = .003) was related to lower perceived knowledge. Conclusions Families with higher SRS had less confidence in their youth sport-related concussion knowledge despite having accurate knowledge. Understanding sociodemographic factors associated with concussion attitudes and knowledge is an important first step for informing policies and keeping youth active in sports.

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Concussion Knowledge of Youth Sport Athletes, Coaches, and Parents: A Review

Journal of Amateur Sport ◽

10.17161/jas.v4i1.6664 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 4 (1) ◽

pp. 82-107 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Sungwon Kim ◽

Daniel P Connaughton ◽

Robert F Leeman ◽

Jong Hoon Lee

Keyword(s):

Traumatic Brain Injury ◽

Brain Injury ◽

Youth Sport ◽

Return To Play ◽

Research Articles ◽

Public Attention ◽

Youth Athletes ◽

Concussion Knowledge ◽

Definition Of ◽

The U.S

Mild traumatic brain injury, commonly known as a concussion, has gained widespread public attention. Approximately 1.1 to 1.9 million children ≤18 years old suffer sport/recreation-related concussions in the U.S. annually. The purpose of this review was to assess research articles examining concussion knowledge of youth sport athletes, coaches and parents. Twenty-one articles published from 2009-2016 were selected. The results of this review suggest that most athletes, coaches, and parents had good knowledge regarding the definition of a concussion, common signs/symptoms, and complications from repeated concussions, while most stakeholders had moderate knowledge about the causes, prevalence, and return-to-play guidelines. However, the majority of respondents did not correctly identify the emotional signs/symptoms associated with concussions, and did not know that youth concussions should be managed more conservatively than adult concussions. Notable knowledge gaps were found among youth athletes and parents compared to coaches. Suggestions to improve these youth sport stakeholders’ concussion knowledge are provided.

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Demographic, Parental, and Personal Factors and Youth Athletes' Concussion-Related Knowledge and Beliefs

Journal of Athletic Training ◽

10.4085/1062-6050-223-17 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 53 (8) ◽

pp. 768-775 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Johna K. Register-Mihalik ◽

Richelle M. Williams ◽

Stephen W. Marshall ◽

Laura A. Linnan ◽

Jason P. Mihalik ◽

...

Keyword(s):

North Carolina ◽

Parental Attitudes ◽

Geographic Location ◽

Youth Sport ◽

Educational Interventions ◽

Ice Hockey ◽

Personal Factors ◽

Socioecological Model ◽

Youth Athletes ◽

Concussion Knowledge

Context: Currently, significant attention is focused on improving care for patients with concussions through legislative mandates that include educational interventions. Few researchers have examined young athletes' concussion knowledge and the factors that may influence their knowledge. Objective: To use the socioecological model to examine demographic, parental, and personal factors associated with youth athletes' knowledge of concussion. Our ultimate goal is to inform the planning and implementation of youth sport concussion-related interventions. Design: Cross-sectional survey. Setting: Gymnasium and classroom. Patients or Other Participants: North Carolina and Arizona youth athletes (n = 225; age = 8 to 15 years) active in football, boys' or girls' soccer, boys' or girls' ice hockey, or boys' or girls' lacrosse in 2012–2013. Main Outcome Measure(s): Participants completed a validated, self-administered survey. The intention and belief measures were guided by the theory of planned behavior. Perceptions of concussion and intention to seek care were examined using descriptive statistics. Athletes' concussion knowledge was modeled using linear regressions and generalized estimating equations, with child demographic and personal factors and parental knowledge and attitudes about concussion as predictors. Results: Geography, sport, parental attitudes toward concussion, and athlete age were associated with athlete knowledge in the univariable analyses (P < .10). In the multivariable model, geographic location (North Carolina versus Arizona, mean difference [MD] = 2.2, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.1, 3.2), sport (girls' soccer versus girls' lacrosse, MD = 2.2, 95% CI = 0.7, 3.6), more favorable parental attitudes toward concussion (MD = 1.2 for a 2-standard deviation shift; 95% CI = 0.3, 2.1), and older age (>12 years, MD = 1.6; 95% CI = 0.5, 2.6) were associated with better knowledge about concussion. Conclusions: Geographic location, sport, parental attitudes about concussion, and athlete's age influenced athletes' concussion-related perceptions, indicating the need to address multiple levels of the socioecological model when targeting youth sport interventions. Parental interventions that translate to an improved culture of youth sport by improving youth athletes' perceptions and experiences are key areas for future work.

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Parents’ and Child’s Concussion History as Predictors of Parental Attitudes and Knowledge of Concussion Recognition and Response

Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine ◽

10.1177/2325967117742370 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 5 (12) ◽

pp. 232596711774237 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Melissa C. Kay ◽

Johna K. Register-Mihalik ◽

Cassie B. Ford ◽

Richelle M. Williams ◽

Tamara C. Valovich McLeod

Keyword(s):

Parental Attitudes ◽

Youth Sport ◽

Symptom Clusters ◽

Level Of Evidence ◽

Maximum Score ◽

Knowledge And Attitudes ◽

Personal Experiences ◽

Sleep Arousal ◽

Concussion Knowledge ◽

Concussion Education

Background: Parents’ knowledge of and attitudes toward concussions are often vital factors that affect care for injured adolescent athletes. It is important to understand the role that parents’ personal experiences with concussions play with regard to current concussion knowledge and attitudes so that clinicians may tailor their educational approaches. Purpose/Hypothesis: The purpose of this study was to determine an association between parents’ personal experiences and their child’s experiences with concussions as well as parental concussion knowledge and attitudes. We hypothesized that parents who have personally experienced symptoms or have a child who has experienced symptoms would have better knowledge and more favorable attitudes toward concussions. Study Design: Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: Parents of youth sport athletes (N = 234 [82 male, 144 female, 8 unreported]; mean age, 44.0 ± 6.3 years) completed a prevalidated survey for concussion knowledge (maximum score possible, 29) and attitudes (maximum score possible, 49). Higher scores indicated better knowledge and more favorable attitudes toward concussive injuries. Parents reported the frequency of concussion diagnoses and/or experiences of concussion-related symptoms and whether their child had suffered a diagnosed concussion or experienced concussion symptoms (yes/no). Spearman rank correlation and multivariable regression were used to examine the association between experience of symptom clusters (self or child) and concussion knowledge and attitudes. Results: Knowledge was moderate (mean, 23.3 ± 2.5 of 29), while attitudes prioritized disclosure (mean, 46.3 ± 3.7 of 49). Parents’ experience of the sleep-arousal symptom cluster was positively associated with concussion attitudes ( r = 0.22, P = .002; β = –3.301, P = .011). Parents with children who experienced sleep-arousal and vestibular-somatic symptom clusters were weakly associated with parental concussion knowledge (sleep-arousal: r = 0.15, P = .041; vestibular-somatic: r = 0.17, P = .020; β = 0.540, P = .012). Conclusion: Our findings suggest that parents’ personal experiences with concussion-related symptoms have little effect on parental knowledge and attitudes as a whole. However, clinicians should consider particular symptom clusters that may provide insight into targets for future concussion education. According to these findings, parents of youth sport participants would benefit from increased concussion education focusing on the types of symptoms as well as the consequences of suffering a concussion.

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