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Current Concussion Knowledge, Beliefs, Education, and Management Practices Among Irish Post-Primary PE Teachers
Siobhán O'Connor1, Rebecca Reilly1, Agnes Hegedus1
1Dublin City University.
Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport
|February 2, 2023
Summary
Irish physical education (PE) teachers have gaps in recognizing all concussion symptoms and supporting return to learn. Targeted education and school policies are needed to improve concussion management for students.
Area of Science:
- Sports Medicine
- Pediatric Concussion Management
- Educational Psychology
Background:
- Physical education (PE) teachers are crucial for identifying and managing concussions in school settings.
- Concussion recognition and management require understanding symptoms and facilitating academic adjustments.
- Existing concussion education for PE teachers may not adequately cover all aspects of student care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the concussion knowledge, beliefs, education, and management practices of Irish post-primary PE teachers.
- To identify specific areas where PE teachers' understanding of concussion symptoms and return to learn protocols needs improvement.
- To inform the development of targeted educational interventions and school-based support systems for concussed students.
Main Methods:
- An anonymous online survey adapted from the validated BAKPAC-TEACH instrument was administered.
- The survey included 128 Irish post-primary PE teachers, representing 4% of registered teachers.
- Data collected focused on reported student concussions, teacher education, symptom recognition, and management practices.
Main Results:
- PE teachers reported an average of 3.5 student concussions annually, with 43.9% having experienced a concussion during PE class.
- While common symptoms like dizziness and headaches were recognized, emotional and sleep-related symptoms were less frequently identified.
- All teachers knew immediate removal from play was necessary, but knowledge and confidence regarding academic adjustments and return to learn were lower, with only 31.3% of schools facilitating adjustments.
Conclusions:
- Significant knowledge gaps exist among PE teachers regarding the full spectrum of concussion symptoms and academic support.
- There is a need for tailored concussion education programs for PE teachers, emphasizing both symptom recognition and return to learn strategies.
- Implementing school-wide concussion policies and academic support teams is essential to enhance student recovery and reintegration.
