Effects of rugby-specific concussion awareness program on collegiate rugby union players

This study assessed the effects of a rugby-specific concussion awareness program on improving the recognition of relevant symptoms and knowledge of concussion in male collegiate rugby union players. Thirty-one collegiate rugby union players from Japan were offered a concussion awareness program; the...

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Main Authors: Keita Suzuki, Satoshi Nagai, Masahiro Takemura
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Japanese Society of Physical Fitness and Sports Medicine 2025-05-01
Series:Journal of Physical Fitness and Sports Medicine
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/jpfsm/14/3/14_67/_pdf/-char/en
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author Keita Suzuki
Satoshi Nagai
Masahiro Takemura
author_facet Keita Suzuki
Satoshi Nagai
Masahiro Takemura
author_sort Keita Suzuki
collection DOAJ
description This study assessed the effects of a rugby-specific concussion awareness program on improving the recognition of relevant symptoms and knowledge of concussion in male collegiate rugby union players. Thirty-one collegiate rugby union players from Japan were offered a concussion awareness program; they responded to a questionnaire assessing symptom recognition and knowledge of concussion three times (before, immediately after, and four weeks after the implementation of the program). Immediately after the program, the recognition score of suspected concussion symptoms was higher compared to before and four weeks later, when it was still higher than before the program, but not statistically significant. In addition, more players selected the correct answers about rugby-specific concussion topics after the program. Our findings suggest that while concussion awareness is expected to improve immediately, this effect was not maintained after four weeks. Therefore, concussion awareness opportunities should be scheduled regularly, such as at the start of each season, before the beginning of competition season, and when new players join the team.
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spelling doaj-art-a564a4b6392a43bc92a384836d9f77c82025-08-20T02:57:32ZengJapanese Society of Physical Fitness and Sports MedicineJournal of Physical Fitness and Sports Medicine2186-81312186-81232025-05-01143677310.7600/jpfsm.14.67jpfsmEffects of rugby-specific concussion awareness program on collegiate rugby union playersKeita Suzuki0Satoshi Nagai1Masahiro Takemura2Faculty of Health and Sports, Nagoya Gakuin UniversityFaculty of Health Sciences, Tsukuba International UniversityInstitute of Health and Sport Sciences, University of TsukubaThis study assessed the effects of a rugby-specific concussion awareness program on improving the recognition of relevant symptoms and knowledge of concussion in male collegiate rugby union players. Thirty-one collegiate rugby union players from Japan were offered a concussion awareness program; they responded to a questionnaire assessing symptom recognition and knowledge of concussion three times (before, immediately after, and four weeks after the implementation of the program). Immediately after the program, the recognition score of suspected concussion symptoms was higher compared to before and four weeks later, when it was still higher than before the program, but not statistically significant. In addition, more players selected the correct answers about rugby-specific concussion topics after the program. Our findings suggest that while concussion awareness is expected to improve immediately, this effect was not maintained after four weeks. Therefore, concussion awareness opportunities should be scheduled regularly, such as at the start of each season, before the beginning of competition season, and when new players join the team.https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/jpfsm/14/3/14_67/_pdf/-char/enrugby unionsport-related concussionconcussion awareness
spellingShingle Keita Suzuki
Satoshi Nagai
Masahiro Takemura
Effects of rugby-specific concussion awareness program on collegiate rugby union players
Journal of Physical Fitness and Sports Medicine
rugby union
sport-related concussion
concussion awareness
title Effects of rugby-specific concussion awareness program on collegiate rugby union players
title_full Effects of rugby-specific concussion awareness program on collegiate rugby union players
title_fullStr Effects of rugby-specific concussion awareness program on collegiate rugby union players
title_full_unstemmed Effects of rugby-specific concussion awareness program on collegiate rugby union players
title_short Effects of rugby-specific concussion awareness program on collegiate rugby union players
title_sort effects of rugby specific concussion awareness program on collegiate rugby union players
topic rugby union
sport-related concussion
concussion awareness
url https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/jpfsm/14/3/14_67/_pdf/-char/en
work_keys_str_mv AT keitasuzuki effectsofrugbyspecificconcussionawarenessprogramoncollegiaterugbyunionplayers
AT satoshinagai effectsofrugbyspecificconcussionawarenessprogramoncollegiaterugbyunionplayers
AT masahirotakemura effectsofrugbyspecificconcussionawarenessprogramoncollegiaterugbyunionplayers