A Systematic Review of Sports-Related Concussion Education Programs: Design, Outcomes, and Recommendations.

Abstract

Objective: This systematic literature review was undertaken to identify the main design features of sport-related concussion (SRC) education programs, examine their outcomes, and consider the relationship between design and effectiveness.

Design: Systematic review.

Main outcome measures: Studies which report on educational interventions (a dedicated in-person or online teaching session) that purport to change knowledge, attitudes, and/or behavior toward sports-related concussion. Searches were performed across 5 databases.

Results: Out of the 9192 records that were initially screened, 28 retrieved studies were identified. The review found considerable diversity in the content, mode of delivery, and aims of SRC education programs. Sport-related concussion programs were largely successful in increasing recipients' knowledge, but these gains were often transitory, and stronger among adults than among children. There was little evidence of a tangible impact on behavior.

Conclusions: We recommend that future research should (1) seek to clarify what constitutes achievable goals for education programs, (2) move toward better intervention standardization through greater consolidation and coordination of the field, (3) feature explicit attempts to tailor interventions to specific target audiences, and (4) ensure the greater involvement of participants in the creation and design of SRC educational interventions.