Provider Perceptions of Current Concussion Care Practices for Active Duty Service Members

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Public Health
• Military Medicine

Background:

• The landscape of traumatic brain injury (TBI) and concussion management is rapidly evolving, posing challenges for evidence implementation.
• Current clinical guidance requires continuous updates to align with emerging research and best practices in concussion care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore healthcare provider perceptions of current concussion care practices.
• To assess provider views on the Department of Defense/Defense Health Agency's Progressive Return to Activity Clinical Recommendation (PRA).
• To inform future research and optimize concussion care strategies for service members.

Main Methods:

• A qualitative, cross-sectional survey study was conducted.
• Data were analyzed using the Consensual Qualitative Research (CQR) tradition.

Main Results:

• Seventeen healthcare providers participated, with 82.4% finding current practices beneficial and 70.5% believing the PRA meets patient needs.
• Three key themes emerged: roles (service member, provider, organization/command), treatment (protocols, improvements, symptom management), and education (service member and provider).

Conclusions:

• Provider perceptions indicate general satisfaction with current concussion care but highlight areas for improvement.
• Findings underscore the importance of addressing roles, treatment specifics, and education delivery for effective concussion management.
• Future research and clinical guidelines should incorporate these insights to enhance brain health preservation among service members.