Using the health belief model to predict concussion-reporting intentions and behaviour

ABSTRACT

Purpose

To determine whether Health Belief Model (HBM) factors predict concussion-reporting intentions and behaviour. Methods: Participants completed a cross-sectional survey to measure the HBM constructs of concussion knowledge, perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, perceived benefits, perceived barriers, and cues to action. We also asked participants to indicate their concussion-reporting intentions and behaviourfor symptom and concussion reporting. Four separate multivariable regressions were conducted to predict concussion-reporting intentions and behaviour based on HBM constructs. Results: Cues to action (β = 0.25, p= .016) predicted symptom reporting intentions (F_7,318 = 4.44, p< .001, R² = 0.089), while perceived benefits (β = 0.12, p= .018), perceived barriers (β = −0.11, p= .034) and cues to action (β = 0.29, p< .001) predicted concussion-reporting intentions (F_7,318 = 11.34, p < .001, R² = 0.200). The HBM did not predict symptom or concussion-reporting behavior (symptom: Χ² = 5.51, p= .138, Nagelkerke R² = 0.096; concussion: Χ² = 5.20, p= .157, Nagelkerke R² = 0.159). Conclusions: Strategies to reduce perceived barriers and increase benefits of reporting concussion symptoms may improve reporting intentions. This may include cues to action in sharing a positive view toward long-term health and dispelling that reporting a concussion would let down teammates. .

KEYWORDS:

• Student-athletes
• mild traumatic brain injury
• cues to action
• perceived barriers

Financial disclosure

This project was conducted in part with support from the National Collegiate Athletic Association-Department of Defense Research Grand Challenge: Changing Attitudes about Concussions in Young and Emerging Adults; National Collegiate Athletic Association;U.S. Department of Defense.

Disclosure statement

Michelle Weber Rawlins has received stipend and travel funds from The National Collegiate Athletic Association-Department of Defense Research Grand Challenge: Changing Attitudes about Concussions in Young and Emerging Adults Grant. Julianne Schmidt was the principal investigator in receiving this grant, and too received travel funds.

Ethical approval

Data for this manuscript were collected from human subjects. Institutional review board (IRB) approval was obtained from the University of Georgia IRB.