Evaluation of the ThinkFirst Canada, Smart Hockey, brain and spinal cord injury prevention video.
OBJECTIVE
The ThinkFirst Canada Smart Hockey program is an educational injury prevention video that teaches the mechanisms, consequences, and prevention of brain and spinal cord injury in ice hockey. This study evaluates knowledge transfer and behavioural outcomes in 11-12 year old hockey players who viewed the video.


METHODS
Randomized controlled design.


METHODS
Greater Toronto Minor Hockey League, Toronto Ontario.


METHODS
Minor, competitive 11-12 year old male ice hockey players and hockey team coaches.


METHODS
The Smart Hockey video was shown to experimental teams at mid-season. An interview was conducted with coaches to understand reasons to accept or refuse the injury prevention video.


METHODS
A test of concussion knowledge was administered before, immediately after, and three months after exposure to the video. The incidence of aggressive penalties was measured before and after viewing the video.


RESULTS
The number of causes and mechanisms of concussion named by players increased from 1.13 to 2.47 and from 0.67 to 1.22 respectively. This effect was maintained at three months. There was no significant change in control teams. There was no significant change in total penalties after video exposure; however, specific body checking related penalties were significantly reduced in the experimental group.


CONCLUSIONS
This study showed some improvements in knowledge and behaviours after a single viewing of a video; however, these findings require confirmation with a larger sample to understand the sociobehavioural aspects of sport that determine the effectiveness and acceptance of injury prevention interventions.
Cook
D J
DJ
Injury Prevention Research Office, St Michael's Hospital, Division of Neurosurgery, Toronto, Canada.
Cusimano
M D
MD
Tator
C H
CH
Chipman
M L
ML
D001294:Attitude to Health; D001296:Audiovisual Aids; D001924:Brain Concussion / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002648:Child; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006688:Hockey / Q000293:injuries*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009864:Ontario; D015397:Program Evaluation; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014743:Videotape Recording