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. 2009 Dec;53(4):233-50.

The ability of parents to accurately report concussion occurrence in their bantam-aged minor hockey league children

Craig J Coghlin  1 , Bryan D Myles, Scott D Howitt
Affiliations

The ability of parents to accurately report concussion occurrence in their bantam-aged minor hockey league children

Craig J Coghlin et al. J Can Chiropr Assoc. 2009 Dec.

Abstract
in English, French

Objective: The objective of this study was to assess the ability of hockey parents/guardians to recognize concussion symptoms in their 13-14 year old (Bantam-aged) children.

Outcome measures: The outcome measures were the ability to recognize different signs and symptoms listed on the Sport Concussion Assessment Tool (SCAT) as well as 8 detractors consisting of signs and symptoms not associated with post concussive syndrome. Additional questions assessing the parents' knowledge of concussion management and recognition abilities were also posed.

Participants: Parents of Bantam-aged minor hockey league athletes volunteered for the study.

Methods: The study investigators distributed questionnaires during the warm up period or following their children's games to the study participants. Following questionnaire completion, participants were provided with an information package outlining the correct signs and symptoms of concussion.

Results: The mean number of correct responses to signs and symptoms of concussion was 21.25/25 for the mothers and 20.41/25 for the fathers. The mean number of detractors identified as not associated with concussion was 5.93/8 for the mothers and 4.85/8 for the fathers, indicating that mothers were more capable of recognizing the signs and symptoms than fathers. An analysis of variance including sporting experience in the model did not strengthen the relationship between parent gender and test outcome.

Conclusion: This investigation revealed that there is still a disconnect in regards to key components of recognizing a concussion, such as difficulty with sleep, disorientation symptoms, and emotional irritability. Mothers have displayed an ability to better differentiate between true and false signs and symptoms of concussion as compared to fathers. Continued education and awareness of mild traumatic brain injury in athletes should address the misconceptions amongst parents in regards to the true signs and symptoms of a concussion.

Objectif :: L’objectif de cette étude était d’analyser la capacité des parents/tuteurs de hockey à reconnaître les symptômes de commotion chez leurs enfants de 13 et 14 ans (âges bantam).

Critères d’évaluation :: Les critères d’évaluation étaient la capacité à reconnaître les divers signes et symptômes énumérés par l’outil d’évaluation des commotions dans le sport (SCAT), ainsi que huit facteurs défavorables composés de signes et symptômes qui ne sont pas associés au syndrome post-commotion. D’autres questions qui évaluent les capacités des parents par rapport à la connaissance du contrôle et de la reconnaissance des commotions ont également été posées.

Participants :: Des parents d’athlètes de hockey mineur d’âge bantam qui se sont proposés pour participer à l’étude.

Méthodes :: Les chercheurs de l’étude ont distribué des questionnaires aux participants à l’étude au cours de la période d’échauffement ou après les parties des enfants. Une fois les questionnaires remplis, on a fourni aux participants une trousse d’information indiquant les signes et symptômes exacts de commotion.

Résultats :: Le nombre moyen de réponses correctes vis-à-vis des signes et symptômes de commotion était 21,25/25 pour les mères et 20,41/25 pour les pères. Le nombre moyen de facteurs défavorables déterminés comme n’étant pas associés à la commotion était 5,93/8 pour les mères et 4,85/8 pour les pères, ce qui indique que les mères étaient plus en mesure de reconnaître les signes et symptômes que les pères. Une analyse de la variance comprenant l’expérience dans les sports au sein du modèle n’a pas renforcé la relation entre le sexe du parent et les résultats au test.

Conclusion :: Cette enquête a révélé qu’il existe toujours une coupure en ce qui a trait aux éléments clés permettant de reconnaître une commotion, comme la difficulté à dormir, des symptômes de désorientation et l’irritabilité émotionnelle. Les mères ont affiché une meilleure capacité à faire la différence entre les vrais et faux signes et symptômes de commotion que les pères. La sensibilisation continue des traumatismes cérébraux légers chez les athlètes doit aborder les idées fausses des parents en ce qui concerne les véritables signes et symptômes d’une commotion.

Keywords: bantam; chiropractic; concussion; hockey.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
The number of incorrect answers for the signs and symptoms not identified as being associated with concussion that are indeed related to concussion
Figure 2
Figure 2
The number of incorrect answers for sign and symptoms identified as being associated with concussion that are not related to concussion
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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