Citation

Schmidt JD, Weber ML, Suggs DW, Bierema L, Miller LS, Reifsteck F, Courson R, Hoff R, Dill K, Dunham J. J. Neurotrauma 2019; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Affiliation

Emory University, 1371, Atlanta, Georgia, United States; john.dunham@emory.edu.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, Mary Ann Liebert Publishers)

DOI

10.1089/neu.2019.6637

PMID

31597536

Abstract

While a base level of knowledge is needed to recognize a concussion, knowledge-focused concussion educational materials ignore multifaceted barriers to concussion reporting. We compared student-athlete concussion reporting intentions and behaviors prior to and one year following exposure to an intervention or control treatment. We randomly assigned 891 collegiate student-athletes from three universities (Division I, II, III) to either the control group (NCAA Concussion Fact Sheet) or intervention group (theory-based, data-driven, multimedia, simulated concussion reporting module). A final sample of 520 student-athletes (control=253, intervention= 267, expired eligibility=189, left university=182) completed intentions and behaviors surveys immediately prior to and one year following the educational intervention and a second survey to assess the intervention effect. We compared intentions using 2x2 mixed model ANOVAs. Behaviors and educational intervention effect were assessed using logistic regression models (alpha=0.05). The intervention group had significantly improved concussion reporting intentions at one-year follow-up relative to the control group (p=0.009), but had similar odds for behaviors. The intervention group had 2.42x greater odds of rating the module as "very effective", rather than "not effective", relative to the control group (95%CI:1.10,5.33). Relative to the control group, the intervention group had significantly greater odds of responding that the concussion education "greatly improved", rather than "did not improve" their knowledge (OR:2.49,95%CI:1.25,4.96), attitudes (OR:2.22,95%CI:1.23,4.03), self-efficacy (OR:1.95,95%CI:1.05,3.60), and intentions (OR:1.86,95%CI:1.03,3.35). The intervention was more effective at targeting elements of the overall sport culture in a way that substantively improved concussion reporting. We recommend use of this intervention in combination with other evidence-based educational materials.

Language: en

Keywords

ADULT BRAIN INJURY; Behavior; GUIDELINES; HEAD TRAUMA; PROSPECTIVE STUDY