Online concussion resources for young children and caregivers: a systematic search.

INTRODUCTION

In Canada, concussions are common among children aged 3-12 years. Caregivers play a vital role in their child's post-concussion care, highlighting the need for resources tailored to children and caregivers. Although many online pediatric concussion resources exist, their suitability for younger children and caregivers remains unclear.

OBJECTIVE

To identify and assess the quality, readability, usability, and suitability of online concussion resources for children aged 3-12 years and their caregivers.

METHODS

A four-phased systematic search strategy was used and involved: 1) searching Canadian children's hospital websites, 2) applying pre-established inclusion/exclusion criteria, 3) evaluating content quality, and 4) evaluating resources for suitability, readability, and usability.

RESULTS

The search yielded 738 resources.17 met the final criteria. Among these, 82.4% (n = 14) required the ability to read text, 11.8% (n = 2) specified the age of the resource targeted, and 5.9% (n = 1) focused on return to play beyond organized sport.

CONCLUSIONS

The identified resources offer accurate concussion information for children and caregivers, but lack specificity for their intended audience and accessibility for nonreaders. Future resources should consider specifying the intended age group, improving accessibility for nonreaders, and including information about important activities for this age group such as returning to active play.