Results of a Controlled Trial of a Peer Concussion Education Program With Collegiate Football Players

Abstract

Abstract Purpose To determine if a novel peer concussion education program (PCEP) increased concussion knowledge and intention-to-report in collegiate football players. Methods A sample of football players (N=666) from 10 NCAA colleges were assessed at three time points (baseline, post-test, 1-month follow-up) with adapted measures of the concussion knowledge checklist (adapted from Gioia & Collins [2006]; McLeod et al. [2007], score range=0–27) and intention-to-report questionnaire (adapted from Register-Mihalik et al. [2013], score range=6–42). Five teams (n=408) were randomly assigned to control; five (n=258) to the PCEP. The data were from a larger randomized multi-site trial of men’s and women’s sports (n=1,614). Results There was a significant effect of the PCEP on concussion knowledge across time, F(2, 1012)=17.3, p<.0001, ηp2=.03. Model-estimated concussion knowledge scores (M[SE]) at all three timepoints were 19.20 (0.73), 19.90 (0.73) and 19.77 (0.73) for control; 19.81 (0.78), 22.12 (0.78), and 21.83 (0.78) for the PCEP. There was also a significant effect of the PCEP on intention-to-report one’s own concussion across time, F(2,1004)=7.51, p<.001, ηp2=.02. Intention-to-report scores (model-estimated M[SE]) increased for control across all three time points (30.87 [1.13], 32.72 [1.13], and 33.37 [1.13]) but at a faster rate for the PCEP (30.44 [1.25], 34.43 [1.25], and 34.67 [1.26]. Conclusion There was a significant increase in concussion knowledge and intention-to-report concussion among football players who participated in the PCEP compared to controls which held at a 1-month follow-up.