Post-concussion driving management among athletic trainers

National Athletic Trainers' Association Bridge Statement: Management of Sport-Related Concussion

OBJECTIVE

To provide athletic trainers and team physicians with updated recommendations to the 2014 National Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA) concussion position statement regarding concussion management, specifically in the areas of education, assessment, prognostic factors, mental health, return to academics, physical activity, rest, treatment, and return to sport.

BACKGROUND

Athletic trainers have benefited from the 2 previous NATA position statements on concussion management, and although the most recent NATA position statement is a decade old, knowledge gains in the medical literature warrant updating several (but not all) recommendations. Furthermore, in various areas of the body of literature, current evidence now exists to address items not adequately addressed in the 2014 statement, necessitating the new recommendations. This document therefore serves as a bridge from the 2014 position statement to the current state of concussion evidence, recommendations from other organizations, and discrepancies between policy and practice.

RECOMMENDATIONS

These recommendations are intended to update the state of the evidence concerning the management of patients with sport-related concussion, specifically in the areas of education; assessment advances; prognostic recovery indicators; mental health considerations; academic considerations; and exercise, activity, and rehabilitation management strategies.

mTBI evaluation, management, and referral to allied healthcare: practices of first-line healthcare professionals

PRIMARY OBJECTIVE

To gain an understanding of current evaluation practices, post-injury recommendations, and referrals to allied healthcare professions (AHP) by first-line healthcare professionals (FHPs) providing care for people with mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI).

RESEARCH DESIGN

Survey study.

METHODS AND PROCEDURES

Physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, nurses, and athletic trainers (n = 126) completed an online survey, including Likert scale and free response question relating to mTBI evaluation, management, and referral practices.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND RESULTS

FHPs surveyed reported being confident in their ability to evaluate patients with suspected mTBI, relying most heavily on patient-reported symptoms and physical signs as methods of evaluation. Most FHPs reported making recommendations to compensate for the symptoms experienced following mTBI diagnosis. In contrast, FHPs expressed challenges in the evaluation and management of symptoms associated with mTBI along with limited knowledge of and referrals to AHPs.

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, FHPs feel confident in the diagnosis of mTBI but experience assessment and management challenges. AHPs are underutilized on mTBI management teams calling for a need for multidisciplinary collaboration on research, education, and rehabilitation efforts to optimally care for people experiencing mTBI symptoms.

Longitudinal Assessment of Postconcussion Driving: Evidence of Acute Driving Impairment

BACKGROUND

Current medical practices and recommendations largely ignore the safety of postconcussion driving, even though commonly used measures of neurocognition, balance, and vestibulo-ocular function show impairment.

PURPOSE

To compare simulated driving between patients with concussion and controls throughout concussion recovery using a case-control design.

STUDY DESIGN

Cohort study; Level of evidence, 2.

METHODS

A total of 26 concussed and 23 control Division I collegiate athletes completed a driving simulation assessment at 3 time points (within 72 hours, asymptomatic, and return to sport). Cumulative driving simulation outcome variables included total number of collisions, speed exceedances, stop signs missed, lane excursions, total drive time, percentage of time over the speed limit, and percentage of time out of the lane. The mean speed, standard deviation of speed (SDS), lateral lane position, and standard deviation of lateral lane position (SDLP) were examined for each of the 11 drive segments. Outcomes were compared using generalized linear mixed models with random intercepts by participant with Poisson or normal distributions.

RESULTS

Within 72 hours of injury, the concussion group committed more lane excursions (median difference, 2; P = .003), exhibited greater SDS while avoiding a child pedestrian crossing the road (Cohen d = 0.73; P = .011), drove ~7 inches (~18 cm) closer to the centerline during a residential left curve (d = 0.90; P = .015), and had greater SDLP while navigating around a car crash compared with controls (d = 0.72; P = .016). When asymptomatic, the concussion group committed fewer speed exceedances (median difference, 2; P = .002) and had lower SDLP while navigating through a traffic light compared with controls (d = 0.60; P = .045). No differences were evident at return to sport. Groups did not differ in total collisions at any time point.

CONCLUSION

The concussion group showed more impaired driving patterns within 72 hours of injury, drove more conservatively once asymptomatic, and had similar driving performance at the time they returned fully to sport. Clinicians should consider these findings when discussing driving with patients acutely after concussion. Further research is needed to determine whether on-road collision risk is elevated after concussion.

Special Report from the CDC Healthcare provider influence on driving behavior after a mild traumatic brain injury: Findings from the 2021 SummerStyles survey

INTRODUCTION

Research shows that a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) impairs a person's ability to identify driving hazards 24 h post injury and increases the risk for motor vehicle crash. This study examined the percentage of people who reported driving after their most serious mTBI and whether healthcare provider education influenced this behavior.

METHODS

Self-reported data were collected from 4,082 adult respondents in the summer wave of Porter Novelli's 2021 ConsumerStyles survey. Respondents with a driver's license were asked whether they drove right after their most serious mTBI, how safe they felt driving, and whether a doctor or nurse talked to them about when it was ok to drive after their injury.

RESULTS

About one in five (18.8 %) respondents reported sustaining an mTBI in their lifetime. Twenty-two percent (22.3 %) of those with a driver's license at the time of their most serious mTBI drove within 24 h, and 20 % felt very or somewhat unsafe doing so. About 19 % of drivers reported that a doctor or nurse talked to them about when it was safe to return to driving. Those who had a healthcare provider talk to them about driving were 66 % less likely to drive a car within 24 h of their most serious mTBI (APR = 0.34, 95 % CI: 0.20, 0.60) compared to those who did not speak to a healthcare provider about driving.

CONCLUSIONS

Increasing the number of healthcare providers who discuss safe driving practices after a mTBI may reduce acute post-mTBI driving.

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

Inclusion of information in patient discharge instructions and prompts for healthcare providers in electronic medical records may help encourage conversations about post-mTBI driving.

Concussion Assessment and Management Practices Among Irish and Canadian Athletic Therapists: An International Perspective

CONTEXT

Certified athletic therapists in Ireland and Canada serve essential concussion assessment and management roles, but their health care practices and concussion knowledge have not been established.

OBJECTIVE

To examine Irish and Canadian athletic therapist cohorts' (1) concussion knowledge, (2) current concussion assessment and management techniques across all job settings, and (3) the association of concussion assessment and management practices with years of clinical experience and highest degree attained.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional cohort study.

SETTING

Online survey.

PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS

Licensed Irish (49.7%, n = 91/183) and Canadian (10.1%, n = 211/2090) athletic therapists.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S)

Athletic therapists completed an online survey assessing their demographics, concussion knowledge (symptom recognition, patient-clinician scenarios), frequency of concussions assessed annually, and assessment and return-to-play (RTP) measures using a modified, previously validated survey. Symptom recognition consisted of 20 (8 true, 12 false) items on recognition of signs and symptoms that were scored as total correct. Descriptive statistics and odds ratios were used to examine survey responses where appropriate.

RESULTS

Irish (86.8%, n = 46/53) and Canadian (93.4%, n = 155/166) athletic therapists indicated RTP guidelines were the most common method for determining RTP. Symptom recognition scores were 72.8% ± 17.0% among Irish and 76.6% ± 17.0% among Canadian athletic therapists. Irish (91.2%, n = 52/57) and Canadian (90.4%, n = 161/178) athletic therapists reported standardized sideline assessments as the most used concussion assessment method. Irish and Canadian athletic therapists' use of 2-domain (Irish: 38.6% [n = 22/57]; Canadian: 73.6% [n = 131/178]) and 3-domain (Irish: 3.5% [n = 2/57]; Canadian: 19.7% [n = 35/178]) minimum assessments (ie, symptoms, balance, or neurocognitive) was not associated with education or clinical experience (P ≥ .07), except for Canadian athletic therapists with master's degrees having greater odds of completing 2-domain assessments at initial evaluation than those with bachelor's degrees (odds ratio = 1.80; 95% CI = 1.41, 1.95).

CONCLUSIONS

Irish and Canadian athletic therapists demonstrated similar concussion knowledge; however, most did not fully adhere to international consensus guidelines for concussion assessment as evidenced by low 2- and 3-domain assessment use. Athletic therapists should aim to implement multidimensional concussion assessments to ensure optimal health care practices and patient safety.

Changes in Driving Behaviors After Concussion in Adolescents

PURPOSE

Although return to learn, exercise, and sports have evidence-based guidelines, there is limited research investigating return to driving after concussion. The purpose was to characterize and compare adolescent driving behaviors after concussion.

METHODS

Using the Minds Matter Concussion Registry, we queried data of adolescents, aged 16-19 years, diagnosed with a concussion ≤28 days of injury and seen between January 31, 2017 and August 31, 2018 at the specialty care concussion program. Outcomes included patient report of: changes postinjury driving behaviors; Post-Concussion Symptom Inventory; return to school, and exercise and sports. Provider recommendations for return to school after initial clinical assessment were also examined. Descriptive statistics, analysis of covariance, and chi-square tests were performed.

RESULTS

Of the 332 drivers (46.1% female; mean age 17.5 years, 95% confidence interval [CI], 17.4-17.6), 46.9% had returned to driving since injury. Of those who returned to driving, 58.9% reported "Driving with No Changes." The Post-Concussion Symptom Inventory score was higher among "Driving with Changes" (48.7, 95% CI: 42.2-55.2) than "Driving with No Changes" (27.4, 95% CI: 22.3-32.5, p < .01) and "Has Not Driven Since Injury" (42.3, 95% CI: 38.4-46.3, p < .01). Among the 332 drivers, few had returned to exercise (15.4%) or organized sports (6.0%). Of those in school (n = 291), only 8.9% were provider recommended to return to full school days after clinical assessment.

CONCLUSION

Many adolescents continued to drive after concussion, despite not yet having returned to exercise or sport. Nine of 10 were advised to return to school with accommodations to begin a gradual increase in cognitive activity, suggesting a gradual increase in driving may be justified.

Slowed driving-reaction time following concussion-symptom resolution

BACKGROUND

Concussed patients have impaired reaction time (RT) and cognition following injury that may linger and impair driving performance. Limited research has used direct methods to assess driving-RT post-concussion. Our study compared driving RT during simulated scenarios between concussed and control individuals and examined driving-RT's relationship with traditional computerized neurocognitive testing (CNT) domains.

METHODS

We employed a cross-sectional study among 14 concussed (15.9 ± 9.8 days post-concussion, mean ± SD) individuals and 14 healthy controls matched for age, sex, and driving experience. Participants completed a driving simulator and CNT (CNS Vital Signs) assessment within 48 h of symptom resolution. A driving-RT composite (ms) was derived from 3 simulated driving scenarios: stoplight (green to yellow), evasion (avoiding approaching vehicle), and pedestrian (person running in front of vehicle). The CNT domains included verbal and visual memory; CNT-RT (simple-, complex-, Stroop-RT individually); simple and complex attention; motor, psychomotor, and processing speed; executive function; and cognitive flexibility. Independent t tests and Hedge d effect sizes assessed driving-RT differences between groups, Pearson correlations (r) examined driving RT and CNT domain relationships among cohorts separately, and p values were controlled for false discovery rate via Benjamini-Hochberg procedures (α = 0.05).

RESULTS

Concussed participants demonstrated slower driving-RT composite scores than controls (mean difference = 292.86 ms; 95% confidence interval (95%CI): 70.18-515.54; p = 0.023; d = 0.992). Evasion-RT (p = 0.054; d = 0.806), pedestrian-RT (p = 0.258; d = 0.312), and stoplight-RT (p = 0.292; d = 0.585) outcomes were not statistically significant after false-discovery rate corrections but demonstrated medium to large effect sizes for concussed deficits. Among concussed individuals, driving-RT outcomes did not significantly correlate with CNT domains (r-range: -0.51 to 0.55; p > 0.05). No correlations existed between driving-RT outcomes and CNT domains among control participants either (r-range: -0.52 to 0.72; p > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Slowed driving-RT composite scores and large effect sizes among concussed individuals when asymptomatic signify lingering impairment and raise driving-safety concerns. Driving-RT and CNT-RT measures correlated moderately but not statistically, which indicates that CNT-RT is not an optimal surrogate for driving RT.

An Integrative Review of Return to Driving After Concussion in Adolescents

Concussion is a common injury among adolescents. It is unknown how a concussion affects driving behavior and performance in adolescents. Although there are guidelines for return to learn, exercise, and sports that school nurses can help support in school, little is known about return to driving after concussion. The goal of this integrative review was to summarize the current literature on return to driving after concussion in adolescents. Six articles published between 2016 and 2020 were included in the review. Physicians and nurse practitioners find providing driving recommendations to adolescents to be appropriate; however, they are unclear what metrics to use to determine whether a patient is fit to drive. Future studies should explore clinical predictors of readiness to return to driving in adolescents. School nurses have an opportunity to support adolescents in their resumption of typical activities after concussion including school, sports, and, as more evidence becomes available, driving.

Do healthcare providers assess for risk factors and talk to patients about return to driving after a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI)? Findings from the 2020 DocStyles Survey

BACKGROUND

There is a dearth of information and guidance for healthcare providers on how to manage a patient's return to driving following a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI).

METHODS

Using the 2020 DocStyles survey, 958 healthcare providers were surveyed about their diagnosis and management practices related to driving after an mTBI.

RESULTS

Approximately half (52.0%) of respondents reported routinely (more than 75% of the time) talking with patients with mTBI about how to safely return to driving after their injury. When asked about how many days they recommend their patients with mTBI wait before returning to driving after their injury: 1.0% recommended 1 day or less; 11.7% recommended 2-3 days; 24.5% recommended 4-7 days and 45.9% recommended more than 7 days. Many respondents did not consistently screen patients with mTBI for risk factors that may affect their driving ability or provide them with written instructions on how to safely return to driving (59.7% and 62.6%, respectively). Approximately 16.8% of respondents reported they do not usually make a recommendation regarding how long patients should wait after their injury to return to driving.

CONCLUSIONS

Many healthcare providers in this study reported that they do not consistently screen nor educate patients with mTBI about driving after their injury. In order to develop interventions, future studies are needed to assess factors that influence healthcare providers behaviours on this topic.