Barriers and Opportunities for Concussion Communication and Management in Youth Sports: A qualitative study

Abstract

To identify opportunities to improve coach-athlete communication, this study examined young athletes' perceptions and concerns about concussion, as well as their information needs. A qualitative data collection approach, based on the grounded theory methodology, was utilized. Six virtual focus groups were conducted with 17 male and female athletes’ ages 12 to 18 years. Results indicated that athletes were concerned about the potential long-term effects of a concussion. Athletes described multiple barriers that interfere with concussion reporting, including: being unfamiliar with concussion signs and symptoms, perceived pressure from teammates, concerns of interference that concussion reporting can have on gameplay, and a lack of focus on concussion during play. To help address these, participants expressed an interest in hearing frequently and directly, such as during a pre-game or practice huddle, from coaches about concussion and how to prevent this injury. The results demonstrate that concussion education programs can consider promoting messages for coaches to deliver to athletes about concussion prevention strategies and the benefits of concussion reporting on an athlete’s long-term health.