Collegiate student-athletes concussion knowledge and attitudes: what a difference a decade Makes

Area of Science:

• Sports Medicine
• Neuroscience
• Public Health

Background:

• Concussions in student-athletes are a significant concern.
• Understanding concussion knowledge and attitudes is crucial for prevention and management.
• Longitudinal data is needed to track changes in awareness over time.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess changes in concussion knowledge and attitudes among incoming intercollegiate student-athletes.
• To compare data from two distinct cohorts spanning a decade (2010-2012 vs. 2021-2023).

Main Methods:

• Utilized the Rosenbaum Concussion Knowledge and Attitudes Survey (ROCKaS) with 592 student-athletes across two cohorts.
• Administered a concussion knowledge index (CKI) and a concussion attitude index (CAI).
• Employed three-factor ANOVA and Chi-Square analyses to compare knowledge and attitude scores between groups.

Main Results:

• A statistically significant increase in the concussion knowledge index (CKI) was observed between the two cohorts (p < 0.001).
• A substantial and statistically significant improvement in the concussion attitude index (CAI) was found between the cohorts (p < 0.001).

Conclusions:

• Concussion knowledge among student-athletes has modestly increased over the past decade.
• Significant improvements in concussion attitudes indicate enhanced awareness and acceptance of safety protocols.
• Further targeted educational efforts are recommended to address remaining misconceptions in concussion management.