Affiliations: [a]
University of Michigan, Michigan Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| [b]
Swedish Medical Center, Seattle, WA, USA
Correspondence:
[*]
Corresponding author: Abigail Johnson, PhD ABPP-CN, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Rehabilitation Psychology and Neuropsychology, 325 E. Eisenhower Pkwy, Ann Arbor, MI 48108, USA. Tel.: +1 734 9367052; E-mail: abigailr@med.umich.edu.
Abstract: PURPOSE:This study assessed concussion knowledge in concussed youth and parents treated at a multi-disciplinary concussion center. METHODS:Youth (n = 50) and parents (n = 36) were approached at the beginning of a clinical visit. Participants completed a 22-item, previously published concussion knowledge survey before the visit. RESULTS:Responses were compared with previously collected, published data from adolescents in a high school setting (n = 500). The patient group was divided into those with one (n = 23) vs. two or more concussions (n = 27). Chi-square analyses compared total correct responses between youth, parents, and the high school sample. T-tests assessed differences in knowledge based on prior concussions, age, and gender. All groups showed high accuracy for return-to-play guidelines (>90%) and similar knowledge of concussion-related symptoms (72.3% vs. 68.6%). Significant knowledge gaps about diagnosis, neurological consequences, and long-term risks were present across groups (19% to 68% accuracy). The patient group more often misattributed neck symptoms to concussion (X2 < 0.005). Prior concussion and gender were not significant predictors of concussion knowledge (p > 0.5). CONCLUSION:Community and clinically-based educational techniques may not be effectively communicating knowledge about concussion diagnosis, symptoms, long-term risks, and neurological implications of concussion. Educational tools need to be tailored to specific settings and populations.
Keywords: Multidisciplinary care, sport-related concussion, education, knowledge
