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Investigation of knowledge and attitude about concussion diagnosis and management among family medicine residents
  1. Aneet Mann,
  2. Aneet Mann,
  3. Charles H Tator,
  4. James D Carson
  1. Toronto Western Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Abstract

Objective To assess knowledge, attitude and learning needs about concussion among family medicine residents

Design A web-based prospective survey

Setting Toronto, Canada.

Participants Family medicine residents at the University of Toronto.

Intervention A link to the survey was disseminated via e-mail by the Department of Family and Community Medicine post-graduate office at the University of Toronto. Data collection occurred over 5 weeks from January to March 2015 with reminder emails sent out to all 348 family medicine residents at 2 weeks and 4 weeks of the study period.

Outcome measures Survey answers to assess knowledge and attitude about concussion.

Main results The residents who responded (n=73/348, response rate 21%) scored an average of 5.2 correct answers out of 9 (57.8%) questions regarding the diagnosis and management of concussion. Seventy-one percent of residents who responded did not recognise chronic traumatic encephalopathy and only 63% recognised second impact syndrome as consequences of repetitive concussions. Moreover, 32% of residents did not think that “every concussed individual should see a physician” as part of management.

Conclusions We found significant gaps in knowledge surrounding concussion diagnosis and management among family medicine residents. This lack of knowledge should be addressed at both the undergraduate medical education and residency training levels to improve concussion-related care and patient outcomes.

Competing interests None.

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