Effectiveness of the SLICE program for youth concussion education

Area of Science:

• Sports Medicine
• Neurology
• Public Health

Background:

• Concussions in student-athletes pose significant health risks.
• Effective concussion education is crucial for appropriate recognition and management.
• The Sports Legacy Institute Community Educators (SLICE) program was developed to address this need.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of the SLICE curriculum in enhancing student-athletes' knowledge of concussion recognition and response.
• To assess the impact of the SLICE program on concussion knowledge across different age groups and genders.

Main Methods:

• A prospective cohort study involving 636 students aged 9-18 years participating in the SLICE concussion education program.
• The program utilized interactive demonstrations, discussions, and case studies.
• Knowledge assessments were administered pre- and post-intervention to measure learning outcomes.

Main Results:

• Significant improvements in concussion knowledge scores were observed post-intervention (P < 0.0001).
• The pass rate on the knowledge quiz increased from 34% to 80% (P < 0.0001).
• Higher post-intervention scores were noted in female students and those aged 13 and older, identified as significant factors via multivariable logistic regression.

Conclusions:

• The SLICE program effectively enhances concussion recognition and response knowledge in students aged 9-18.
• The curriculum demonstrates broad applicability for youth concussion education initiatives.
• Age and gender are key factors influencing knowledge acquisition in concussion education programs.