Symptom profile of affirmative responses to a self-report concussion question, United States 2019

ABSTRACT

Information is limited about signs and symptoms experienced by individuals who self-report a concussion within surveys. The objective of this study was to assess the number and types of signs/symptoms adults experienced and whether or not medical attention was reported after sustaining a self-reported concussion in the past year. A sample of 3,624 adults responded to the web-based 2019 FallStyles survey. Respondents were asked if they had sustained a concussion in the past 12 months and if so, which (if any) signs/symptoms they experienced following the injury. The frequency and percentages of symptoms were calculated. Approximately 2.9% of respondents reported a concussion in the past year. Approximately two-thirds of respondents who reported sustaining a recent concussion stated that they experienced two or more signs/symptoms; the remaining one-third reported zero or one symptom. The findings suggest self-report concussion questions need additional improvement, particularly those that capture concussion using a single question, to improve the validity of self-reports.

KEYWORDS:

• Concussion
• injury prevention
• survey methodology

Acknowledgments

the authors have no acknowledgements to declare

Disclosure of Interest

the authors report no conflicts of interest

Disclaimer

The findings and conclusions in this manuscript are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Data Availability

Data are not publicly available

Select one

Table

1B. A concussion can occur anytime a blow to the head causes you to have one or more symptoms, whether just for a short time or lasting a while. Symptoms include: being dazed or confused, trouble remembering, or being knocked out. In the past 12 months, do you believe that you have had a concussion?

Select one

Table

1C. In the past 12 months, do you believe that you have had a concussion?

Select one

Table

2. How many concussions have you had in the past 12 months?

3. When you sustained your most recent concussion, were you … ?

Select one

Table

4. When you had your most recent concussion, were you … ?

Select one

Table

5. Did a doctor or nurse evaluate you for your most recent concussion?

Select one

Table

6. Where did the doctor or nurse first evaluate your most recent concussion?

Select one

Table

7. Did the doctor or nurse diagnose you with a concussion or traumatic brain injury?

Select one

Table

8. Sometimes it is very difficult for people to receive the health care that they need or want. Please select the primary reason you did not receive health care for your most recent concussion.

Select one

Table

9. Did you experience any of the following symptoms after your most recent concussion?

Select all that apply

Table

Additional information

Funding

this research was not supported by external funding