Heads up for concussion, what do emergency physicians know? A scoping review

Area of Science:

• Emergency Medicine
• Neurology
• Sports Medicine

Background:

• Concussion is a prevalent condition with substantial healthcare costs, affecting 1.2%–6.6% of emergency department visits.
• Recent UK guidelines mandate same-day review for suspected concussions, increasing the need for physician expertise.
• Effective concussion management requires emergency physicians to possess up-to-date knowledge and adhere to clinical guidelines.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the existing literature on concussion knowledge, diagnosis, and management among emergency physicians.
• To identify gaps in emergency physician understanding and application of concussion care protocols.
• To inform strategies for enhancing concussion education and practice in emergency settings.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive scoping review was conducted using a six-step process.
• Searched five major online databases (MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, Scopus, Google Scholar) and performed a hand search of references.
• Included 17 papers published between January 2012 and February 2023, focusing on concussion, emergency medicine, and medical education.

Main Results:

• The majority of studies (14/17) originated from North America, primarily using online surveys or chart reviews.
• A significant finding across 14 studies was the presence of knowledge gaps among emergency medicine physicians (EMPs).
• Three interventional studies showed positive impacts, suggesting educational interventions can improve concussion management.

Conclusions:

• Emergency medicine physicians exhibit considerable knowledge deficits and suboptimal adherence to current concussion guidelines.
• Targeted educational interventions are necessary to improve concussion diagnosis and management among EMPs.
• Further research is required to identify cost-effective strategies for enhancing concussion care in emergency departments, particularly in the UK.