Comparing perceptions of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) across health care disciplines

Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) has received considerable media attention and is a growing concern for individuals with repeated head injuries. Studies exploring perceptions of CTE among health care professionals are sparse.

To compare health care disciplines' perceptions of CTE and explore mediating factors.

Electronic survey.

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Kanser and colleagues (2023) originally recruited neuropsychologists (NP; n = 325) from popular neuropsychology professional email listservs. To expand responses from other disciplines, paid electronic advertisement was targeted to the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine listserv leading to the formation of two additional groups: MED (n = 92; MD, DO, MD-PhD respondents) and REHAB (n = 88; physical/speech/occupational therapists, nurses).

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Survey items probing self-reported CTE familiarity, source of CTE knowledge, agreement with the proposed sequelae of repeated concussions (CTE-Stance Sequelae), view of the strength of the CTE research base (CTE-Stance Research), and view of the media's portrayal of CTE. All CTE related survey items were combined to create a CTE-Stance Total composite.

Most respondents (>75%) reported being at least 'somewhat' familiar with CTE. The media was a source of knowledge for a proportion of all groups (22%-64%). Significant differences were observed across groups for CTE-Stance Total, CTE-Stance Sequelae, and CTE-Stance Research with large effect sizes (0.35 ≤ η² ≤ 0.44). NP had a more negative/skeptical view of CTE and its research base than MED who had a more negative/skeptical view than REHAB. Group differences were mediated by nonempirical CTE knowledge sources (media, family) and beliefs surrounding the cognitive recovery following a single, uncomplicated concussion.

Surveyed neuropsychologists, physicians, and rehabilitation providers have significantly different views of CTE and its research base. CTE knowledge source and inaccurate belief regarding the chronic cognitive effects of a single, uncomplicated concussion partially explain differences in CTE perspectives across professions. More research is needed regarding CTE knowledge and practices for discussing CTE with patients who have such concerns.