NCAA concussion education in ice hockey: an ineffective mandate

Abstract

The NCAA's general education mandate was divergently enacted; it did not significantly change the constructs of interest nor did it mitigate the pre-education team differences in these constructs. Existing educational materials should be evaluated, theory and evidence-driven materials developed, and mandates extended to, at a minimum, recommend materials found to be effective in changing concussion-reporting behaviour.

Social norms theory and concussion education

“…Given the substantial fraction of athletes who continue playing their sport while symptomatic [25][26][27][28][29], it is imperative that interventions be developed that increase symptom reporting. This study provides support for the potential utility of a norm-correcting educational approach.…”

“…This programming has been relatively ineffective in changing concussion safety behavior, or in changing cognitions about concussion safety other than knowledge [25,[49][50][51][52][53][54]. This may, in part, be due to inadequate Social norms and concussion attention to perceived norms.…”

“…Despite the importance of timely removal from play, evidence suggests that more than half of all collegiate athletes have continued to participate in their sport while symptomatic after a suspected concussion [25][26][27][28][29]. The gap between concussions sustained and concussions reported is not simply a function of athletes being unable to recognize problematic symptoms [30].…”

Do as I say: contradicting beliefs and attitudes towards sports concussion in Australia

“…As such, current understanding of concussion is not consistent with the currently accepted medical definition, promoting misunderstanding, and potentially affecting the reporting of concussions (Robbins et al, 2014). Consequently, previous studies, across a range of sports and countries, have estimated over 50% of concussion injuries are not reported by players, or under-diagnosed by physicians (Baker, Devitt, Green, & McCarthy, 2013;Kerr, Register-Mihalik, Kroshus, Baugh, & Marshall, 2016;Kroshus, Daneshvar, Baugh, Nowinski, & Cantu, 2013).…”

“…It should be noted that the majority of studies regarding concussion attitudes have, to date, been directed towards student-athletes and their coaches (Bramley, Patrick, Lehman, & Silvis, 2012;Chrisman et al, 2013;Kaut et al, 2003;Kerr et al, 2016;Kroshus et al, 2013;Kroshus et al, 2015;McCrea et al, 2004;McLeod, Schwartz, & Bay, 2007;; although club athletes (Baker et al, 2013;Braham, Finch, McIntosh, & McCrory, 2004), have also been surveyed, but to a lesser extent. Further, the majority of these studies have been completed in North America.…”