Understanding high school athletes’ and coaches’ experiences regarding concussion-related behaviours in their sports : a qualitative study using the COM-B model

Une commotion cérébrale liée au sport (CCS) est une lésion cérébrale traumatique dont les athlètes du secondaire sont susceptibles de présenter des symptômes graves en raison de la maturation cognitive pendant l'adolescence. En utilisant le modèle « Capability Opportunity Motivation-Behaviour » (Michie et al., 2011), nous cherchions à comprendre les expériences des étudiants-athlètes d’écoles secondaires et de leurs entraîneurs par rapport aux comportements liés aux CCS. Nous avons mené des entrevues semi-structurées (M = 72 min) avec des athlètes (n = 10), des entraîneurs (n = 4) et des enseignants-entraîneurs (n = 2) d'une école secondaire impliqués dans le hockey sur glace, le basket-ball, le volley-ball et le rugby. Nous avons effectué une analyse dirigée de contenu en utilisant le modèle COM-B. Les athlètes et les entraîneurs ont décrit des expériences ayant eu un impact sur leur capacité à divulguer les symptômes (athlètes) et à gérer correctement la CCS (athlètes et entraîneurs). De plus, les participants ont décrit des facteurs qui ont influencé les opportunités à améliorer les connaissances en matière de CCS (athlètes et entraîneurs), de les déclarer (athlètes), de les gérer correctement (athlètes) et de les identifier (enseignants-entraîneurs). Enfin, les participants ont indiqué leurs motivations pour les décisions concernant le signalement des CCS (athlètes), le retrait du jeu (entraîneurs) et la bonne gestion des CCS (athlètes et entraîneurs). Les résultats de cette étude pourraient aider les chercheurs à intégrer la théorie du changement de comportement pour créer des interventions d'éducation sur les CCS.Sport-related concussion (SRC) is a traumatic brain injury that has regrettably become prevalent in many contact or collision sports. High school athletes are more vulnerable to experiencing more severe symptomatology compared to adults due to the cognitive maturation that occurs throughout adolescence. Using the Capability Opportunity Motivation-Behaviour (COM-B) model, the innermost ring of the Behaviour Change Wheel (Michie et al., 2011), we sought to understand the experiences of high school athletes and coaches with concussion-related behaviours in their sports. We conducted qualitative semi-structured interviews (M = 72 min) with high school athletes (n = 10), coaches (n= 4), and teacher-coaches (n= 2) from a rural high school in New Brunswick, who were involved in ice hockey, basketball, volleyball, and rugby. We performed a directed content analysis of the interview transcripts using the COM-B model as pre-determined codes. Athletes and coaches described experiences that we felt impacted their capabilities for symptom disclosure (athletes), and for both athletes and coaches to properly manage SRC. Similarly, we interpreted that opportunities to improve SRC knowledge (athletes and coaches), to report SRC (athletes), to properly manage SRC (athletes) and to identify SRC (teacher-coach) were impacted by factors described in participants’ experiences. Lastly, participants described the motivational factors that impacted their SRC reporting (athletes), removal from play (coaches) and proper SRC management (athletes and coaches) behaviours. The findings from this study will ideally assist future researchers in designing more effective behavioural interventions to improve concussion safety among high school sport participants

Relationship Among Emotional Intelligence and/or Extrovert Bias on Perceived Stress Levels in DPT Students

Purpose/Hypothesis: Students in graduate level DPT programs function at varying levels. Some students thrive and others struggle to maintain required minimum levels of academic performance. When considering admission of applicants, and when assisting enrolled students, consideration of factors contributing to academic success is of interest. Stress has been shown to be prevalent in a wide range of students and has many negative effects including poor life satisfaction, increased clinical burnout, and reduced academic performance. Research has shown a correlation between higher emotional intelligence (EI) and decreased stress levels in medical, nursing, and undergraduate students. The purpose of this study was to examine if emotional intelligence (EI) and/or extrovert bias correlates with perceived stress levels in Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) students. It was hypothesized that students with higher emotional intelligence and more extroverted personalities would experience lower levels of perceived stress. Participants: After providing consent, a convenience sample of 60 first and second year DPT students (33 female) with age range 23 to 38 participated in the current study. Participation was voluntary and 60 of a possible 72 students chose to participate. Materials/Methods: After obtaining informed consent, participants completed Goldberg’s IPIP-Neo questionnaire (extraversion), Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) and Assessing Emotions Scale (emotional intelligence). Each of these tools have demonstrated validity and reliability for the respective areas measured. Surveys were administered to students and results were analyzed for possible relationships between extraversion and stress levels as well as EI and stress levels using a Spearman Correlation test. Results: Spearman Correlation analyses were conducted with a significant negative correlation between EI and perceived stress rs = -0.291, p= 0.026 and a non-significant negative correlation between extraversion and perceived stress rs = -1.36, p= 0.305. Discussion: In the current sample, EI had a significant negative relationship with perceived stress levels, with higher EI scores correlating to lower levels of stress. The relationship between extraversion and perceived stress was non-significant. Clinical Relevance: Doctorate level graduate programs can be considered intense and very stressful. Admission of qualified students equipped to meet the demands of a DPT program has great importance. Establishing a correlation between EI, introversion/extraversion bias, and stress may help DPT programs further assess prospective students. Consideration of factors correlated with higher perceived stress may be useful when providing resources to admitted students to facilitate academic success

Child Welfare, Domestic Violence and Substance Abuse: A Review of the Literature, Promising Practices and Strategies

The purpose of this second and final report by the Project is to provide a synopsis of trends, promising practices and programs from across the nation and in Maine related to child abuse/neglect, domestic violence and substance abuse. The report illustrates that Maine is not alone in grappling with these problems. The report is intended, however, to offer several examples of what has been tried and what has been learned by other states and professionals over the past several years. A special emphasis has been placed on services and strategies that have utilized collaborative models of training and program development/delivery

Child Welfare, Domestic Violence And Substance Abuse: A Report on Protocols and Practices Preliminary Report

The purpose of the Project is to examine issues related to child abuse/neglect and substance abuse and domestic violence and substance abuse. In particular, the Project is interested in determining how the child welfare system and domestic violence programs interact with substance abuse services