Introduction: Pediatric traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major global public health challenge. Annually approximately 180 per 100,000 children are hospitalized for head injury each year in the United States alone. Studies have demonstrated that TBI in any age group, but in the pediatric population in particular, is associated with a higher incidence of decline in cognitive skills, poor adaptive functioning and academic performance and a higher rate of psychiatric and behavioral diseases. Through legislative and administrative channels we developed an interactive online educational module and tested its efficacy to educate student-athletes in the state of Arizona about TBI.
Methods: We developed a comprehensive, age-appropriate e-learning module called Brainbook. In addition, this educational program was deployed along with a 12-item questionnaire to determine prior attitudes/awareness about concussions. A post-attitude survey was administered to determine if participation in this module influenced attitudes and awareness.
Results: During the autumn of 2011, a total of 80,250 participants (45,876 male (57%) and 34,374 female (43%)) were enrolled in the Brainbook e-module on concussion and TBI education. The participants were between the ages of 13-19. Out of 26 possible points, the average pre- and post-test scores were 16.9 and 18, respectively. Using a Wilk’s lambda analysis, this was noted to be a significant result.
Conclusions: Despite a small effect size, the Brainbook e-learning module had a significant impact on teaching student-athletes in the state of Arizona about TBI and concussion. Our results suggest that the students have a fair baseline awareness of TBI, but that this and similar learning modules can enhance the education and prevention of TBI in this high-risk group.
Patient Care: This project aims to educate high school athletes about the importance of TBI and timing of return to play. Traumatic brain injury is a major global health issue and educating the youth early will have an important impact on preventing the sequelae of TBI.
Learning Objectives: To illustrate the utility of an e-learning module in teaching children about concussion and prevention.