Preliminary evidence-based recommendations for return to learn: a novel pilot study tracking concussed college students.

AIM: Students re-entering the academic setting after a concussion is commonly referred to as return-to-learn and, to date, very few studies have examined the return-to-learn aspect of concussion recovery.

METHODOLOGY: Nine college-aged, full-time students who were diagnosed with concussions were monitored throughout their concussion recovery. The severity for five chief symptoms (headache, dizziness, difficulty concentrating, fatigue, anxiety) were recorded six-times per day through text messages, and daily phone calls recorded participant's behavioral traits.

RESULTS

We identified five behavioral variables which significantly influenced symptom resolution (music, sleep, physical activity, water and time) (p = 0.0004 to p = 0.036). Additionally, subjects reported math and computer-oriented courses as the most difficult (33 and 44%, respectively).

CONCLUSION

We introduce a novel approach to monitor concussed students throughout their recovery, as well as factors that may influence concussion recovery process.