Investigating Concussion Knowledge in US Born Versus Internationally Born Collegiate Student-Athletes in the United States

Abstract

Objective: To compare concussion knowledge between US born and internationally born collegiate student-athletes. Furthermore, to investigate whether length of time in the United States impacted concussion knowledge. Design: Survey. Setting: Preparticipation physicals at a midwestern NAIA college. Participants: Three hundred one collegiate student-athletes. Interventions: Demographic questionnaire and the Rosenbaum Concussion Knowledge and Attitudes Survey (RoCKAS). Main Outcome Measures: t test was used to determine whether a difference in Concussion Knowledge Index (CKI) scores exists between US born and internationally born student-athletes. A one-way analysis of variance was used to determine significance for length of time in the United States. Results: A statistically significant difference was found for CKI scores between US born (19.22 ± 2.38) and internationally born student-athletes (18.01 ± 2.57) (t = 3.895, P = 0.000). Analysis of variance demonstrated statistically significant difference for CKI scores (F 2,300 = 13.883, P = 0.001). Post hoc analysis found significant differences in CKI scores between US born (19.22 ± 2.38) and internationally born student-athletes in the United States less than 2 years (17.31 ± 2.52) (P = 0.000), and between internationally born student-athletes in the United States 2 or more years (19.15 ± 2.25) and internationally born student-athletes in the United States less than 2 years (17.31 ± 2.52) (P = 0.002). Conclusion: Among this sample, being born in the United States and length of time in the United States contribute to student-athletes' concussion knowledge. Clinical Relevance: Standardized guidelines are needed to assist health care professionals in properly educating student-athletes about concussions as the recognition and management of concussions can be affected by a student-athlete's knowledge.

Investigation of concussion knowledge and attitudes of Chinese amateur adolescent soccer athletes

“…The CKI scores and CAI scores of the amateur adolescent soccer athletes investigated in this study were similar to that of British professional soccer players [24] but lower than that of US college athletes. [33] Common misconceptions of concussion knowledge include: the belief that imaging techniques can identify concussions; symptoms of concussions do not usually disappear completely after ten days; and concussions can affect long-term health. Some athletes who supported the above views in the semi-structured interviews believed that: “a brain scan in hospital would determine the extent of the injury”; “full recovery from a concussion could take six months or even a year”; and “the aftereffects of a concussion can affect future health.” Moreover, these athletes also felt that a concussion victim should be immediately taken out of play or training.…”