A - 13 Social Determinants of Health and Health Equity in Return to Learn Following Sport-Related Concussion

Abstract

We conducted a narrative review and content analysis to (i) determine the extent to which research on return to learn (RTL) following sport-related concussion (SRC) has considered social determinants of health (SDoH) or health equity and (ii) provide recommendations to enhance the incorporation of SDoH and health equity into considerations of how best to support concussed students as they RTL following injury. We coded 32 studies from a systematic review focused on clinical recovery following SRC, including RTL (Putukian et al., 2023). The review informed the latest Concussion in Sport Group consensus statement (Patricios et al., 2023). We examined studies to determine whether the SDoH domains and subcategories, derived from the US Department of Health and Human Services Healthy People 2020 and 2030 websites, were addressed. Pairs of raters coded articles independently and resolved disagreements through discussion. SDoH remain largely unrepresented in studies on return to school following concussion. Future research is needed to better characterize how SDoH and health equity factors influence return to school following concussion to ensure that concussed and recovering students are supported.