Barriers and facilitators to the uptake of the Concussion Awareness Training Tool as continuing medical education in primary care

Jalila Devji; Shazya Karmali; Kate Turcotte; Shelina Babul

doi:10.2217/cnc-2022-0014

Barriers and facilitators to the uptake of the Concussion Awareness Training Tool as continuing medical education in primary care

Concussion. 2023 May 19;8(2):CNC106. doi: 10.2217/cnc-2022-0014. eCollection 2023 Jun.

Authors

Jalila Devji¹, Shazya Karmali², Kate Turcotte², Shelina Babul^{2

3}

Affiliations

¹ Faculty of Medicine Undergraduate Program, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, V6T 1Z3, Canada.
² BC Injury Research and Prevention Unit, BC Children's Hospital, Vancouver, V6H 3V4, Canada.
³ Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, V6T 1Z3, Canada.

Abstract

Aim: Continuing medical education (CME) informs physicians on current research. The Concussion Awareness Training Tool (CATT) provides education on concussion diagnosis and treatment. The aims of this study were to explore physician CME practices and preferences, understand barriers and facilitators to implementing the CATT as CME, and provide recommendations.

Materials & methods: Physicians in British Columbia, Canada participated in an online survey and telephone interview. Descriptive analysis of quantitative data, and text-based data analysis were undertaken to identify themes.

Results: Barriers included lack of time and awareness of the resource. Facilitators were its ease of use, accessibility, conciseness and comprehensiveness.

Conclusion: The perceptions of barriers and facilitators reported by physicians are important to understand and better promote the use of the CATT.

Keywords: concussion; mild TBI; sports medicine; treatment.

Plain language summary

Doctors take continuing medical education (CME) to stay on top of new information and practices. The Concussion Awareness Training Tool (CATT) is available for doctors to learn more about concussion care. This study looked at how doctors in British Columbia, Canada are taking CME training, and what factors are encouraging or preventing them from using the CATT. Doctors reported a lack of time for taking CME, and not knowing about this resource. Those who had taken the CATT training reported that it is easy to use, accessible, concise, and comprehensive. This information will be used to improve promotion of this resource.