TY - JOUR
T1 - Concussion History, Reporting Behaviors, Attitudes, and Knowledge in Jockeys
AU - O'Connor, Siobhán
AU - Warrington, Giles
AU - Whelan, Grainne
AU - McGoldrick, Adrian
AU - Cullen, Sarah Jane
PY - 2020/11/1
Y1 - 2020/11/1
N2 - OBJECTIVE: To examine concussion history, knowledge, and attitudes among Irish professional and amateur jockeys. DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey. SETTING: Questionnaire was distributed through e-mails sent to all licensed jockeys, over social media and during professional and amateur race meetings. PARTICIPANTS: An average of 23.6% (12%-44%) Irish professional and amateur jockeys (n = 119) holding a license in 2017. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Jockeys reported their previous concussion history, actions after their most recent concussion and responded to questions examining their knowledge and attitudes toward concussion. RESULTS: Amateur (32.4%) and professional (19.6%) jockeys, who were never medically diagnosed over their career, suspected that they had sustained a concussion. Jockeys displayed good knowledge of concussion signs and symptoms; yet, one in 2 jockeys would continue to ride out the same day if they suspected they had a concussion. They were less likely if they had a race that day. Reasons for continuing to ride include not considering a concussion as serious (85.7%); risk of losing the ride (84.0%); not wanting to let anyone down (77.8%); and considered it a sign of weakness (74.1%). Risky behavior was more common after a suspected concussion than a medically diagnosed concussion. CONCLUSIONS: Underreporting of concussions is proposed as a serious concern, and concussion understanding and attitudes can impact reporting. To address the issue of underreporting of concussions in Irish horseracing, there is a need to educate jockeys and the wider racing community on the importance of timely concussion assessments and access to appropriate management systems.
AB - OBJECTIVE: To examine concussion history, knowledge, and attitudes among Irish professional and amateur jockeys. DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey. SETTING: Questionnaire was distributed through e-mails sent to all licensed jockeys, over social media and during professional and amateur race meetings. PARTICIPANTS: An average of 23.6% (12%-44%) Irish professional and amateur jockeys (n = 119) holding a license in 2017. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Jockeys reported their previous concussion history, actions after their most recent concussion and responded to questions examining their knowledge and attitudes toward concussion. RESULTS: Amateur (32.4%) and professional (19.6%) jockeys, who were never medically diagnosed over their career, suspected that they had sustained a concussion. Jockeys displayed good knowledge of concussion signs and symptoms; yet, one in 2 jockeys would continue to ride out the same day if they suspected they had a concussion. They were less likely if they had a race that day. Reasons for continuing to ride include not considering a concussion as serious (85.7%); risk of losing the ride (84.0%); not wanting to let anyone down (77.8%); and considered it a sign of weakness (74.1%). Risky behavior was more common after a suspected concussion than a medically diagnosed concussion. CONCLUSIONS: Underreporting of concussions is proposed as a serious concern, and concussion understanding and attitudes can impact reporting. To address the issue of underreporting of concussions in Irish horseracing, there is a need to educate jockeys and the wider racing community on the importance of timely concussion assessments and access to appropriate management systems.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85095404919&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1097/JSM.0000000000000658
DO - 10.1097/JSM.0000000000000658
M3 - Article
C2 - 30212399
AN - SCOPUS:85095404919
SN - 1050-642X
VL - 30
SP - 578
EP - 584
JO - Clinical Journal of Sport Medicine
JF - Clinical Journal of Sport Medicine
IS - 6
ER -