title: Assessment of symptoms in a concussion management programme: method influences outcome.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Monitoring of subjective symptoms is the foundation of all sport concussion management programmes. The purpose of this study is to examine methodological variables that impact symptom reporting during baseline testing.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate how the administration method of a concussion assessment tool (self-report vs interview) affects the report of symptoms.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a cross-sectional, semi-randomized study of 117 athletes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Subjects completed the Post-Concussion Scale during pre-season evaluations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A two-factor ANOVA revealed a significant difference in total symptom scores (p = 0.02) and number of endorsed symptoms (p = 0.02) across administration modes. Athletes had a greater total symptom score and reported a greater number of symptoms in the self-administration condition than in the interview condition. Furthermore, there was a significant difference in symptom reporting across interviewer gender. Athletes endorsed more symptoms when the interviewer was a woman.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Because the method of collecting symptoms, as well as interviewer gender, can impact test results, self-report measures may be a better way of obtaining consistent results. Clinicians and researchers should be aware that both the nature and extent of symptom reporting is greater when using questionnaires than when athletes are interviewed.
authors.affiliation: University of Alberta, Calgary, Alberta, Canada. alkrol@ualberta.ca
authors.forename: Andrea L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Krol
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mrazik
authors.forename: Dhiren
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Naidu
authors.forename: Brian L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Brooks
authors.forename: Grant L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Iverson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D056352:Athletes / Q000523:psychology; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D001924:Brain Concussion / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult