Agreement Between Concussion Policy and Clinical Practice on Aspects of Concussion Management

Document Type

Poster

Abstract

Background: With continuous growth in concussion research, knowledge and evolution of best practice standards, it is unsure if current practicing clinicians are implementing current best practices or following outdated recommendation regarding the management of sports related concussion (SRC). Objective(s): This follow-up survey study aimed to assess the agreement in concussion management practices between written policy and athletic trainer (AT) practice. Design: Cross-Sectional. Setting: Online survey with multiple choice and open-ended questions. Participants: We surveyed 162 athletic trainers (24,3% of schools statewide; full-time ATs=149, part-time ATs=13, missing=22) whom all has voluntarily provided copies of the concussion protocols from the 2018-2019 academic year. Responses were obtained from 24 ATs (response rate=14.8%). Data Collection and Analysis: A 60-item follow up cross-sectional online survey was used. Only 15 items were used for analysis as they best represented the mandatory tenets of The Safety in Youth Sports Act. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the survey response items. Data analysis was guided by consensual qualitative research with a four-person data-analysis team. In order to note agreement, and agreement variable was created for each of the 15 items assessed. Results: Agreement was found for the five mandatory tenets of The Safety in Youth Sports Act of Pensilvania: (1) concussion education for coaches, athletes, and parents/guardians; (2) removal from play at the time of suspected injury without eligibility for same-day return to play; (3) clearance by a qualified healthcare provider trained in concussion management for an athlete to be eligible for return to play; (4) concussion training certification for coaches; (5) penalties for coaches who are found in violation of concussion policy. Conclusion: While our findings suggest that where is agreement between the items of the high school protocol study and the ATs survey responses, future research should aim to study dissemination and implementation strategies for SRC protocols at the secondary school level across the state of Pennsylvania.

Publication Date

Fall 2022

Comments

Poster presented at ATSU-ASHS DAT Fall - 2022. This is a Kubify based presentation hosted at https://api.ltb.io/show/ABQSV It includes a video presentation, references, a PowerPoint presentation, and summary poster.

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