title: Assessment of parental knowledge and attitudes toward pediatric sports-related concussions.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Parents of young athletes play a major role in the identification and management of sports-related concussions. However, they are often unaware of the consequences of concussions and recommended management techniques.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study quantitatively assessed parental understanding of concussions to identify specific populations in need of additional education. We predicted that parents with increased education and prior sports- and concussion-related experience would have more knowledge and safer attitudes toward concussions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional survey.
  
  
  METHODS
  Level 5.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants were parents of children brought to a pediatric hospital and 4 satellite clinics for evaluation of orthopaedic injuries. Participants completed a validated questionnaire that assessed knowledge of concussion symptoms, attitudes regarding diagnosis and return-to-play guidelines, and previous sports- and concussion-related experience.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Over 8 months, 214 parents completed surveys. Participants scored an average of 18.4 (possible, 0-25) on the Concussion Knowledge Index and 63.1 (possible, 15-75) on the Concussion Attitude Index. Attitudes were safest among white women, and knowledge increased with income and education levels. Previous sports experience did not affect knowledge or attitudes, but parents who reported experiencing an undiagnosed concussion had significantly better concussion knowledge than those who did not.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Parents with low income and education levels may benefit from additional concussion-related education.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There exist many opportunities for improvement in parental knowledge and attitudes about pediatric sports-related concussions. Ongoing efforts to understand parental knowledge of concussions will inform the development of a strategic and tailored approach to the prevention and management of pediatric concussions.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Surgery, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California ; Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California.
authors.forename: Ann C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Surgery, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California.
authors.forename: Garrett A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Salzman
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Surgery, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California.
authors.forename: Shelby L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Bachman
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Surgery, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California ; Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California.
authors.forename: Rita V
authors.initials: RV
authors.lastname: Burke
authors.affiliation: Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California ; Children's Orthopedic Center Sports Medicine and Concussion Program, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California.
authors.forename: Tracy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Zaslow
authors.affiliation: Children's Orthopedic Center Sports Medicine and Concussion Program, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California.
authors.forename: Carolina Z
authors.initials: CZ
authors.lastname: Piasek
authors.affiliation: Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California ; Children's Orthopedic Center Sports Medicine and Concussion Program, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California.
authors.forename: Bianca R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Edison
authors.affiliation: Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California ; Children's Orthopedic Center Sports Medicine and Concussion Program, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California.
authors.forename: Anita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hamilton
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Surgery, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California ; Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California.
authors.forename: Jeffrey S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Upperman
keywords: brain concussion; knowledge; parents; pediatric sports injury; traumatic brain injury