Concussion Knowledge and Self-Reported Behaviors in Youth Rugby Players and Their Coaches: A Population-Wide Cross-Sectional Survey

Abstract

Objective: To investigate concussion knowledge and self-reported behaviors in Italian youth rugby players and their coaches. To investigate predictors of lower concussion knowledge and association between athletes' self-reported knowledge and behavior.

Design: Cross-sectional, population-wide, survey study.

Setting: All rugby clubs (n = 52) of the Veneto region (Italy).

Participants: Players and coaches of all under 15, 17 and 19 teams. Overall, 1719 athlete surveys (92.2% male; response rate, 71.1%) and 235 coach surveys (93.6% male; response rate, 93.2%) were eligible for analysis.

Intervention: Surveys circulated from September 20 to December 13, 2021.

Main outcome measures: Knowledge scores were reported as a percentage of correct answers. Descriptive statistics were reported for all answers. The primary outcomes were concussion knowledge and self-reported behaviors. The secondary outcomes were the association between knowledge and participant individual factors and self-reported behaviors.

Results: Median knowledge score for athletes was 55% (IQR: 44-67) and for coaches was 60% (IQR: 52.5-69). Only 33.3% of athletes and 40% of coaches were aware of an increased risk of a second concussion after sustaining one. Athletes who had never heard of the word concussion (effect: -9.31; SE: 1.35, 95% CI: -12.0 to -6.7; P < 0.0001) and coaches with longer coaching experience (effect: -4.35; SE: 2.0, 95% CI: -8.29 to -0.41; P < 0.03) reported lower knowledge scores. There was no statistical association between knowledge scores and athlete self-reported behavior.

Conclusion: Athletes and coaches had a similar level of concussion knowledge. Knowledge score of athletes did not predict self-reported behaviors. Although enhanced concussion education should be undertaken, interventions to ensure appropriate concussion reporting behaviors are also required.