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

Examination of collegiate student-athlete concussion reporting intentions and behavior

J Clin Transl Res. 2020 Apr 16;5(4):186-196. eCollection 2020 May 26.

Authors

Michelle L Weber Rawlins¹, David Welch Suggs², Laura Bierema³, L Stephen Miller⁴, Fred Reifsteck⁵, Julianne D Schmidt⁶

Affiliations

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

PMID: 32671280
PMCID: PMC7357619

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.

Materials and 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. Backward elimination Akaike Information Criterion 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.

Keywords: reporting behaviour; reporting intention; sport-related concussion; theory of planned behavior.