Factors that influence collegiate varsity athletes' knowledge of concussions

Context. The factors that affect athletes knowledge of concussions, most specifically the causes, signs and symptoms, long-term effects, and return to play criteria, as well as the role of the athlete throughout the entire process has not been identified. It is important to examine the factors that affect concussion knowledge in athletes so they can be addressed before the sports season begins. Objective. To determine what factors affect concussion knowledge in collegiate varsity athletes. Design. Descriptive study. Setting. Population based survey. Patients or other participants. Eighty seven volunteer male and female collegiate varsity athletes completed the survey. Participants attended California University of Pennsylvania (n=20), Goshen College (n=41), and Penn State Fayette (n=6). No surveys were returned from Indiana University (n=0). Interventions. The independent variables were concussion education training, experience in a varsity sport, sport, and personal history of concussions. Survey was created by the researcher to test concussion knowledge. Athletic directors at the participating college forwarded an email with cover letter and a link to the survey to all varsity athletes at their institution. Main outcome measures. The dependent variable was the score on the concussion knowledge test. Each survey was graded as an exam and was worth 67 points with the final score determining the athlete's knowledge score. Each correct answer was given 1 point, while each incorrect answer was awarded 0 points. The athlete's score was then divided by the total possible points (67) and given a percentage with 100% being a perfect score. Results. No significant difference was found (t = 1.712, p > .05) between the score of the athletes who participated in a concussion education training session (m = 88.2, sd = 8.47) and score of the athletes with no training (m = 83.6, sd = 9.65). The relationship between years of experience as a varsity athlete and concussion knowledge score was found to have a weak negative correlation that was not significant (r = -.139, p > .05). Athletes with a history of concussions (m = 91.3, sd = 5.47) scored significantly higher (t = -3.708, p < .05) than the mean score of the athletes with no history of concussions (m = 82.4, sd = 9.59). No significant difference was found (t = 1.361, p > .05) between the concussion knowledge score of football athletes (m = 89.3, sd = 6.24) and the scores of the all other sports (m = 84.1, sd = 9.95). Conclusions. A previous history of concussions was the only factor that affected concussion knowledge.