Parents' knowledge and attitudes toward pediatric concussions in Saudi Arabia

Concussions are considered a public health issue with both short- and long-term physical, cognitive, and emotional consequences. Parents play an important role in recognizing symptoms, seeking care, and managing recovery. In Saudi Arabia, there is limited evidence regarding parental knowledge and attitudes toward pediatric concussions.

The study assessed parental knowledge and attitudes regarding concussions in Saudi Arabia and examined the influence of sociodemographic factors, such as income, education level, gender, number of children, and history of falls.

A nationwide cross-sectional survey was carried out across Saudi Arabia from February to April 2025. Parents aged 18 and above with children participated through an online self-administered questionnaire. The survey gathered demographic information, beliefs regarding concussion management, recognition of symptoms, and knowledge and attitudes about concussion.

A total of 524 participants were included in the final analysis. The majority of participants were female (79.2%), Saudi nationals (95.2%), and residents of the central region (68.5%). The age distribution indicated that most participants were between 31 and 50 years old (71.1%). The average score on the Concussion Knowledge Index was 15.4 ± 3.0 out of 25, while the average attitude score was 42.0 ± 6.2 out of 49. Despite this, 63.0% of participants reported not having prior awareness of concussion-related information. CKI scores showed a positive correlation with education level (ρ = 0.229, p < 0.001) and income (ρ = 0.166, p < 0.001). There was also a significant positive correlation between knowledge and attitude scores (ρ = 0.266, p < 0.001). Parents who reported previous awareness of concussions had notably more positive attitudes (p = 0.008). No significant differences in knowledge or attitude scores were observed based on gender, geographic region, or history of child falls.

This study provides nationwide cross-sectional survey data on parents' knowledge and attitudes about pediatric concussions in Saudi Arabia. The results highlight the need to develop culturally appropriate educational programs for parents and public health initiatives focused on enhancing early detection and management of pediatric concussions.