Examination of collegiate student-athlete concussion reporting intentions and behavior

Michelle L. Weber Rawlins, David Welch Suggs, Laura Bierema, L. Stephen Miller, Fred Reifsteck, Julianne D. Schmidt

Rawlins et al., J Clin Transl Res 2020; 5(S4): 5

Published online: April 16, 2020

Abstract

Background: Clinicians rely on student-athletes to self-report concussion symptoms, but more than 50% of concussions go undisclosed.
Aim: The aim of this study was to determine whether knowledge, attitudes, subjective norms, self-efficacy, social identity, and athletic identity explain variability in student-athlete concussion reporting intentions and behavior. 
Methods: One hundred and forty-seven Division I and II collegiate student-athletes (male=23, female=56, missing=168; age=19.041.98 years) completed survey segments regarding the following predictor variables: concussion knowledge, attitudes, subjective norms, self-efficacy, social identity, and athletic identity; and the following criterion variables: reporting intentions (symptom and concussion reporting) and reporting behavior (symptom and concussion reporting) (completion rate=29.2%). Separate linear and logistic regressions were performed for each criterion variable. Backwards elimination Akaike Information Criterion (AIC) was applied to determine the best fit model.
Results: A one-point increase in knowledge, attitudes, and self-efficacy predicted a significant 0.55, 0.23, and 0.31 increase in symptom reporting intentions, and 0.24, 0.30, and 0.33 increase in concussion reporting intentions of concussion reporting. As self-efficacy increased, symptom reporting behavior increased by 140%. When knowledge increased, concussion reporting behavior decreased by 23%. Whereas when subjective norms increased, concussion reporting behavior increased by 23%.
Conclusions: A student-athletes’ confidence, or self-efficacy, was a frequent predictor of concussion reporting intentions and behavior.
Relevance for patients: Clinicians should aim to increase student-athlete knowledge, attitudes, and subjective norms, but most importantly their confidence in reporting concussions. 

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.18053/jctres.05.2020S4.005

Author affiliation

1 A.T. Still University, Mesa, AZ, United States
2 Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication, Grady Sports Media Initiative, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
3 Program Adult Learning, Leadership, & Organization Development, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
4 Department of Psychology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
5 University Health Center, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States
6 Department of Kinesiology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, United States

*Corresponding author 
Michelle L. Weber Rawlins
A.T. Still University, Mesa, AZ, United States
Email: Michelleweber@atsu.edu

Handeling editor:
Michal Heger
Department of Pharmaceutics, Utrecht University, the Netherlands
Department of Pharmaceutics, Jiaxing University Medical College, Zhejiang, China

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