A-139 Knowledge of Concussion is Determined by Concussion Education but not Prior Concussion or Participation in Contact Sport

Abstract

Objective In order to prevent concussion and promote help-seeking behaviour, this study sought to establish baseline concussion knowledge scores in the general population and to better understand the factors that influence variations in these scores. Data Selection Participants were (N = 223) individuals over the age of 18 years (M = 35.21, SD = 14.31) recruited from the general population via an online questionnaire. Designed to measure knowledge of concussion, the questionnaire contained demographics, grouping variables (previous concussion education, n = 74; history of concussion, n = 72; and participation in contact sport, n = 36), and 37-items from the Concussion Knowledge Index (CKI) of the Rosenbaum Concussion Knowledge and Attitudes Survey (RoCKAS). Results Concussion knowledge was higher than expected with 79.12% of participants responding correctly to CKI items. Group comparisons found individuals with prior concussion education to be significantly higher than individuals without U = 4382.50, z = −2.526, p = .01 (two-tailed), the effect was small r = .21. There was no difference in knowledge scores for gender, participants with a history of concussion or those who participate in contact sport. Conclusion When compared to similar studies sampling contact sports players, concussion knowledge was higher than expected. High-risk groups within the study (history of concussion and contact sport) were similarly informed than the general population. Further research is needed to understand whether higher knowledge translates to increased injury reporting and safer behaviour.