Randomized controlled trial of a behavioral intervention (Pre-Game Safety Huddles) designed to study the impact of huddles on concussion safety in youth sport, primarily regarding intention to report concussive symptoms.
More than 1 million youth sustain a sport-related concussion (SRC) each year. The middle school age range is particularly concerning because it is a time when children have both a unique susceptibility to brain injury and high participation rates in organized sports with concussion risk, such as soccer and football. There are two avenues to decrease concussion risk: (1) minimizing the number and force of collisions to decrease concussion incidence (primary prevention) and (2) improving concussion identification to decrease morbidity (secondary prevention). The goal of this study is to utilize Pre-Game Safety Huddles to discuss sportsmanship (primary prevention) and concussion reporting (secondary prevention) with a goal of improving concussion safety. To assess the efficacy of Pre-Game Safety Huddles as a tool for injury prevention, we will conduct a Randomized controlled trial with youth sport teams. We will recruit leagues in the Seattle area (girls' soccer, boys' soccer and football) and randomize them to either intervention or control. Coaches in the intervention group will then be trained to lead Pre-Game Safety Huddles before each game over the course of the season (9-12 weeks). Youth and coaches will be surveyed at three time points and data will be analyzed to determine impact of the intervention on two outcomes: 1) expectations regarding reporting concussive symptoms (CR-E) and 2) expectations regarding engaging in potentially injurious play (IP-E).
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
500
Coaches will be trained to lead Pre-game Safety Huddles by the RA with the study using a multi-media tool we have developed. Huddles will be brief (1-2 minutes) and will primarily focused on 1) encouraging concussion reporting and 2) encouraging good sportsmanship
Sara P Chrisman
Seattle, Washington, United States
Change, Expectations regarding concussion reporting (CR-E)
Self-report survey of Athlete expectations regarding reporting concussive symptoms
Time frame: Baseline, 4-6 weeks, 9-12 weeks
Change, Expectations of engaging in potentially injurious play (IP-E)
Self-report survey of Athlete rating of expectations of engaging in potentially risky sport behavior
Time frame: Baseline, 4-6 weeks, 9-12 weeks
Change, Perceived coach, parent and peer norms regarding concussion reporting (PN-PWCS)
Self-report survey, Athlete perception of norms regarding concussion reporting
Time frame: Baseline, 4-6 weeks, 9-12 weeks
Change in Perceived coach (TN-C), parent (TN-P) and peer norms (TN-T) regarding sportsmanship
Self-report survey, Athlete perception of norms regarding sportsmanship
Time frame: Baseline, 4-6 weeks, 9-12 weeks
Change, Youth sport values (YSV)
Self-report survey, Athlete values regarding sport participation
Time frame: Baseline, 4-6 weeks, 9-12 weeks
Self-report of concussion diagnosis
Athlete report of concussion diagnosis during the season
Time frame: 9-12 weeks
Change, Expectations regarding reporting teammate concussion (bystander reporting) (E-BR)
Self-report survey, Athlete intention to report teammate concussive symptoms
Time frame: Baseline, 4-6 weeks, 9-12 weeks
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Change, Prosocial and Antisocial Behavior in Sport Scale (PABSS)
Self-report survey, Standardized measure of sportsmanship
Time frame: Baseline, 4-6 weeks, 9-12 weeks
Performed behavior, concussion reporting (PB--CR)
Self-report survey, Athlete concussion symptoms following potential concussion during season
Time frame: 9-12 weeks
Acceptability of Intervention Measure (AIM-2) and Feasibility of Intervention Measure (AIM-2, FIM-2)
Self-report survey, Standardized measures of acceptability and feasibility
Time frame: 9-12 weeks