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Updated: Feb 18, 2026
A Neuroscientific Approach to the Examination of Concussions in Student-Athletes
Published on: December 8, 2014
Validation of 'reported concussion' within a national health survey
Kevin E Gordon1, Stefan Kuhle2
1a Division of Pediatric Neurology , Department of Pediatrics Dalhousie University , Halifax , NS , Canada.
Setting:
The Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS) is a national cross-sectional health survey, which has collected information on injuries serious enough to limit normal activity.
Objective:
To assess the construct and discriminant validity of reporting 'concussion or other brain injury' in the CCHS as the respondents' most serious injury.
Methods:
Construct validity was assessed by describing the injury profile. Discriminant validity was assessed by examining differences between those reporting concussion or other brain injury, and either: respondents not reporting brain injury (population control); or respondents reporting orthopaedic injuries (orthopaedic control).
Results:
In total, 1,852 of the 682,455 eligible CCHS respondents (≥12 years) reported a concussion or other brain injury within the prior year, a population annual incidence of 0.29%. Those reporting concussion or other brain injury were younger and male (p < 0.001), with an injury acquired by falling (p < 0.001) or sport or physical exercise (p < 0.001). Most (78.4%) who reported concussions or other brain injuries received medical attention from a health professional within 48 hours of their injury. The reported injury profiles appear to differ from the population controls and those reporting orthopaedic injuries.
Conclusions:
The report of 'concussion or other brain injury' in the CCHS may be a valid source of population-based traumatic brain injury epidemiological data.
