@article{ref1,
title="Concussion management by paediatricians: A national survey of Canadian paediatricians",
journal="Brain injury",
year="2014",
author="Gordon, Kevin E. and Do, Minh T. and Thompson, Wendy and McFaull, Steven R.",
volume="28",
number="3",
pages="311-317",
abstract="OBJECTIVE: To assess the use of concussion/mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) guidelines, criteria used in the initiation of return-to-play (RTP) and management of RTP for brain injured children and youth by Canadian paediatricians.   METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was mailed through the Canadian Paediatric Surveillance Program to ∼2600 paediatric specialists and sub-specialists.   RESULTS: Of 809 respondents (31%), 503 encountered newly diagnosed paediatric concussion/mTBI within the past 12 months, reporting ∼6900 cases. Of the respondents, 96.7% (95% CI = 94.7-98.6%) reported using one or more of the presented concussion/mTBI guidelines in the management of their patients. The most frequently reported criteria (>50%) used to determine asymptomatic status were: free from all concussion symptoms, by patient report (92%), by proxy report (76%), normal physical examination (65%), in school full-time, with usual school performance (53%). Most respondents (84.9%) did not initiate RTP immediately after their patients became asymptomatic. The median time waiting before initiating RTP was 7 days. The median duration of the RTP sequence was 7 days, with considerable variation reported.   CONCLUSIONS: Canadian paediatricians frequently encounter patients with concussion/mTBI. Their concussion/mTBI care appears to be consistent with current guidelines, but also shows practice variation, particularly when current guidelines become less proscriptive.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0269-9052",
doi="10.3109/02699052.2013.862740",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.3109/02699052.2013.862740"
}