title: An Assessment of an Education Intervention on Youth Sports Coaches Knowledge of Concussions
Creators: name: Brigham, Heidi Elizabeth
Publisher: name: Old Dominion University
publisherIdentifier: https://ror.org/04zjtrb98
publisherIdentifierScheme: ROR
Year: 2008

description: Research has shown that sport related concussions are occurring at high rates across the United States. Research has also shown that there are many misconceptions among youth sports coaches regarding concussions. Therefore the purpose of this study was to determine the effects of an educational intervention on the knowledge of concussion recognition, management and prevention for youth sports coaches. A secondary purpose was to compare various relationships between demographic characteristics and the concussion knowledge assessment scores. A twenty-one question multiple choice assessment and 16 option symptom recognition checklist was utilized to assess concussion knowledge prior to and following an educational intervention. A demographic questionnaire was also used to collect information about coaches that may have affected their assessment scores. A coaches pamphlet and informational clipboard from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention's Head's Up: Concussion in Youth Sports tool kit was used for educational materials. On the pre-educational concussion knowledge assessment coaches mean scores were 19.03±1.68 (21 total score) on the total multiple choice assessment and 6.40±1.20 (8 total score) on the symptom checklist. The mean multiple choice scores for recognition were 6.53±.80 (7 total score), management were 6.60±.67 (7 total score) and prevention were 5.90±1.07 (7 total score). Repeated measures ANOVA showed a main effect for time (p=.022, F=5.715) with post education scores (μ=19.89±1.110) being higher than pre education assessment scores (μ=19.39±.946). T-tests revealed significant differences between concussion recognition (μ=6.53±.801) and prevention (μ=5.90±1.077) (p<.001, t=6.524) as well as management (μ=6.60±.665) and prevention (p<.001, t=7.336). There were no significant differences found between concussion recognition and management (p=.341, t=.954). There were no statistically significant differences (p=.330, t=.977) found between total multiple choice or symptom checklist scores of coaches with personal concussion experience and exposure through athletes. Pearson correlations revealed no statistically significant relationships between multiple choice scores and time spent reviewing materials (p=.308, t=-.170), nor between symptom checklist scores and time spent reviewing the educational materials (p=.776, 1=.048). A statistically significant difference was found between initial (pre) education multiple choice scores and those with HSD or GED (μ=18.62±1.945) and those subjects with a degree of higher education (μ =19.27±1.490) (p= .020, t= -2.358). No statistically significant difference was found between subjects with HSD or GED (μ=6.21±1.348) and subjects with a degree of higher education (μ=6.48±1.101) and symptom checklist scores (p=.186, t=-1.332). There was no statistically significant relationship between the total years of coaching experience (p=.090, 1=.137) or the years of coaching experience at the youth sports level (p=.268, 1=.090) and the symptom checklist scores. Our results show that there is an increase in knowledge following the implementation of educational materials on youth sports coaches knowledge of concussions, however this increase is small. Further education programs should focus on injury prevention as it has shown to be an area of weakness.