Investigating Concussion Knowledge in US Born Versus Internationally Born Collegiate Student-Athletes in the United States.

OBJECTIVE

To compare concussion knowledge between US born and internationally born collegiate student-athletes. Furthermore, to investigate whether length of time in the United States impacted concussion knowledge.

DESIGN

Survey.

SETTING

Preparticipation physicals at a midwestern NAIA college.

PARTICIPANTS

Three hundred one collegiate student-athletes.

INTERVENTIONS: Demographic questionnaire and the Rosenbaum Concussion Knowledge and Attitudes Survey (RoCKAS).

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: t test was used to determine whether a difference in Concussion Knowledge Index (CKI) scores exists between US born and internationally born student-athletes. A one-way analysis of variance was used to determine significance for length of time in the United States.

RESULTS

A statistically significant difference was found for CKI scores between US born (19.22 ± 2.38) and internationally born student-athletes (18.01 ± 2.57) (t = 3.895, P = 0.000). Analysis of variance demonstrated statistically significant difference for CKI scores (F2,300 = 13.883, P = 0.001). Post hoc analysis found significant differences in CKI scores between US born (19.22 ± 2.38) and internationally born student-athletes in the United States less than 2 years (17.31 ± 2.52) (P = 0.000), and between internationally born student-athletes in the United States 2 or more years (19.15 ± 2.25) and internationally born student-athletes in the United States less than 2 years (17.31 ± 2.52) (P = 0.002).

CONCLUSION

Among this sample, being born in the United States and length of time in the United States contribute to student-athletes' concussion knowledge.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Standardized guidelines are needed to assist health care professionals in properly educating student-athletes about concussions as the recognition and management of concussions can be affected by a student-athlete's knowledge.