Sports-related concussion management as a control problem: using STAMP to examine concussion management in community rugby

Abstract

The effective management of sports-related concussion is an on-going problem in amateur sport due to a number of systemic issues. These factors have often been studied in isolation with minimal consideration for the interactions between them, or the overall system in which they occur. The aim of this research was to model the actors, controls, and feedback mechanisms influencing the management of concussion in community rugby union using the Systems-Theoretic Accident Model and Processes (STAMP) method. Findings show that there are currently many inadequate controls, that are directly and indirectly impacting effective concussion management. The practical implications of these findings are discussed (e.g. improved guideline education, mandatory medical presence, rule amendments). Additionally, the model provides a sound framework similar team sports can use to inform research into injury management and prevention (e.g. rugby league, hockey, AFL).

Practitioner Summary: Research shows that concussion management in regional sport is inconsistent due to contextual limitations. Systems-Theoretic Accident Model and Processes was applied to identify the systemic factors currently influencing concussion management practices in community sport. Findings show inadequate controls precipitate concussion management gaps. Practical implications of the findings are discussed.

Keywords:

• Concussion
• sports-related concussion
• SRC
• systems theory

Acknowledgements

Paul Salmon’s contribution to this research was supported by an ARC Future Fellowship (FT140100681). We would like to thank the anonymous reviewers for their helpful comments on the original manuscript.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.