Purpose: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of a theory- driven education platform to improve concussion-related norms and perceptions in an effort to improve student-athletes concussion-related decision-making. Participants: 80 college-aged recreational athletes. Procedures: The study is a single-blind (participants) randomized control trial where participants will complete a previously validated survey assessing concussion knowledge, perceived norms, attitudes, and behavioral intentions immediately pre- and post-receipt of their designated intervention. Participants will also complete the previously validated survey two-week post receipt of their designated intervention. The interventions include an interactive concussion education platform along with the NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) concussion education sheet and the NCAA concussion education sheet alone (with a sham educational intervention similar in length to the concussion education platform).
A convenience sample of participants will be recruited from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill student-body from November-January via campus emails, in-class recruitment, flyers/informational sheets, and word of mouth from fellow participants. During the beginning of recruitment, efforts were targeted towards males with participant numbers being carefully monitored. Recruitment will be targeted to recruit an even number of males and females. Interested participants will be contacted to confirm interest and those who remained interested will be scheduled to complete the study session. Participants will report to an on-campus athletic training facility or research laboratory or may report/complete study activities virtually. Participants will then complete the written, informed consent process. The consent form indicated that they would be completing a sport-related educational intervention to not disclose the information they would receive and to keep participants blind to their intervention group assignment. Participants will not be explicitly told that it is a study evaluating concussion education, but rather an injury and nutrition study, to reduce bias. Once the consent form was signed, participants were assigned a unique identifier and randomized (simple) without replacement to one of the two study arms, using a pre-determined random number generator in Excel. Participants then completed the pre- questionnaire in a quiet location via a tablet/computer provided by the research team or virtually. There was no time limit for completion of the questionnaire. The survey will feature an item that prompts individuals if they miss a question, but does not force participants to respond. After initial questionnaire completion, participants completed their assigned intervention (decision-based interactive concussion education platform + NCAA concussion education sheet versus NCAA education sheet). Immediately following their respective intervention, athletes completed the questionnaire again. Upon completing the post-intervention questionnaire, the participant's participation in the study is complete and they will receive an incentive. Following each survey, a research team member will verify and assess for missing answers, allowing participants to complete any missed questions that they wish to answer. Two weeks following the post-intervention survey, participants will be contacted again to complete the same questionnaire to assess retention of concussion knowledge, perceived norms, attitudes, and behavioral intentions. At this two-week post time point, participants will be informed of the true purpose of the study and be provided access to the BANK (Behaviors, Attitudes, Norms, and Knowledge) platform.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
OTHER
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
75
A fact sheet that includes information about basic signs and symptoms of a concussion as well as steps to take if an individual sustains a concussion and reinforces the need to report the injury.
An approximately 7-minute video that includes information about basic sports nutrition facts.
A platform grounded in theoretical frameworks including the socioecological model and theory of planned behavior. It includes a short video to provide an overview of key lessons, a short quiz, and additional resource links that conclude the module.
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States
Perceived Behavioral Norms Change Score
Participants are asked seven questions on a previously validated BANK survey identifying what an athlete thinks are important to people in his or her environment would do with respect to concussion reporting. Each item is added together to compute an overall perceived behavioral norms score. The difference between the intervention and post-intervention total score is calculated to compute a change score.Scoring scale ranges from a minimum of 7 to a maximum of 49, where higher scores indicate more favorable perceived norms.
Time frame: From pre to post intervention, an approximate total of up to thirty minutes.
Behavioral Intention Change Score
Participants are asked a three questions on a previously validated BANK survey assessing intention to disclose a concussion or concussion-like symptoms. The items are totaled to compute an overall behavioral intention score. The difference between the pre-intervention and post-intervention score is calculated to compute a change score.Scoring scale ranges from a minimum of 3 to a maximum of 21, where a higher score indicates a better likelihood that an individual will disclose concussion-like symptoms.
Time frame: From pre to post intervention, an approximate total of up to thirty minutes.
Pre-Intervention Concussion Knowledge Score
Participants are asked thirty-nine questions on a previously validated BANK survey concerning information. regarding signs \& symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and return to play following a sport-related concussion. Each item is added together to compute an overall concussion knowledge score. Scoring scale ranges from a minimum of 0 to a maximum 39, where a higher score indicated better concussion knowledge.
Time frame: Within approximately 15 minutes prior to viewing intervention
Pre-intervention Perceived Behavioral Norms Score
Participants are asked seven questions on a previously validated BANK survey identifying what an athlete thinks are important to people in his or her environment would do with respect to concussion reporting. Each item is added together to compute an overall perceived behavioral norms score. Scoring scale ranges from a minimum of 7 to a maximum 49, where high scores indicate more favorable perceived norms.
Time frame: Within approximately 15 minutes prior to viewing intervention
Pre-Intervention Attitudes Score
Participants are asked six survey items identifying an individual's beliefs about a certain behavior (e.g., concussion disclosure).Each item is added together to compute an overall attitude score. Scoring scale ranges from a minimum of 6 to a maximum of 42, where higher scores indicate more favorable attitudes.
Time frame: Within approximately 15 minutes prior to viewing intervention
Pre-Intervention Behavioral Intention Score
Participants are asked three questions on a previously validated BANK survey assessing intention to disclose a concussion or concussion-like symptoms. The items are totaled to compute an overall behavioral intention score. Scoring scale ranges from a minimum of 3 to a maximum of 21, where a higher score indicates a better likelihood to disclose concussion-like symptoms.
Time frame: Within approximately 15 minutes prior to viewing intervention
Post-Intervention Concussion Knowledge Score
Participants are asked thirty-nine questions on a previously validated BANK survey concerning information regarding signs \& symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and return to play following a sport-related concussion. Each item is added together to compute an overall knowledge score. The scoring scale ranges from a minimum of 0 to a maximum of 39, where a higher score indicates better concussion knowledge.
Time frame: Up to approximately 30 minutes after viewing intervention
Post-intervention Perceived Behavioral Norms Score
Participants are asked seven questions on a previously validated BANK survey identifying what an athlete thinks are important to people in his or her environment would do with respect to concussion reporting. Each item is added together to compute an overall perceived behavioral norms score. Scoring scale ranges from a minimum of 7 to a maximum of 49, where a higher score indicates more favorable perceived norms.
Time frame: Up to approximately 30 minutes after viewing intervention
Post-Intervention Attitudes Score
Participants are asked six survey items identifying an individual's beliefs about a certain behavior (e.g., concussion disclosure). Each item is added together to compute an overall attitude score. Scoring scale ranges from a minimum of 6 to a maximum of 42, where a higher score indicates more favorable attitudes.
Time frame: Up to approximately 30 minutes after viewing intervention
Post-Intervention Behavioral Intention Score
Participants are asked three questions on a previously validated BANK survey assessing intention to disclose a concussion or concussion-like symptoms. The items are totaled to compute an overall behavioral intention score. The scoring scale ranges from a minimum of 3 to a maximum of 21, where a higher score indicates a better likelihood that the individual will disclose concussion-like symptoms.
Time frame: Up to approximately 30 minutes after viewing intervention
Concussion Knowledge Change Score
Participants are asked thirty-nine questions on a previously validated BANK survey concerning information. regarding signs \& symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and return to play following a sport-related concussion. Each item is added together to compute an overall knowledge score. The difference between the pre-intervention and post-intervention total score is calculated to compute a change score. Scoring scale ranges from a minimum of 0 to a maximum of 39, where higher scores indicate better concussion knowledge.
Time frame: From pre to post intervention, an approximate total of up to thirty minutes.
Attitudes Change Score
Participants are asked six survey items identifying an individual's beliefs about a certain behavior (e.g., concussion disclosure). Each item is added together to compute an overall attitude score. The difference between the pre-intervention and post-intervention total score is calculated to compute a change score. Scoring scale ranges from a minimum of 6 to a maximum of 42, where higher scores indicate more favorable attitudes.
Time frame: From pre to post intervention, an approximate total of up to thirty minutes.
Concussion Knowledge Retention Score
Participants are asked thirty-nine questions on a previously validated BANK survey concerning information. regarding signs \& symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and return to play following a sport-related concussion. Each item is added together to compute an overall knowledge score. The scoring scale ranges from a minimum of 0 to a maximum of 39, where higher scores indicate better concussion knowledge.
Time frame: Within approximately 2 weeks following the viewing of the intervention
Perceived Behavioral Norms Retention Score
Participants are asked seven questions on a previously validated BANK survey identifying what an athlete thinks are important to people in his or her environment would do with respect to concussion reporting. Each item is added together to compute an overall perceived behavioral norms score. Scoring scale ranges from a minimum of 7 to a maximum of 49, where higher schools indicate more positive perceived norms.
Time frame: Within approximately 2 weeks following the viewing of the intervention
Attitudes Retention Score
Participants are asked six survey items identifying an individual's beliefs about a certain behavior (e.g., concussion disclosure). Each item is added together to compute an overall attitude score. The scoring scale ranges from a minimum of 6 to a maximum of 42, where higher scores indicate more favorable attitudes.
Time frame: Within approximately 2 weeks following the viewing of the intervention
Behavioral Intention Retention Score
Participants are asked three questions on a previously validated BANK survey assessing intention to disclose a concussion or concussion-like symptoms. The items are totaled to compute an overall behavioral intention score. The scoring scale ranges from a minimum of 3 to a maximum 21, where a higher score indicates a better likelihood that an individual will disclose concussion-like symptoms.
Time frame: Within approximately 2 weeks following the viewing of the intervention
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