What they know and who they are telling: Concussion knowledge and disclosure behaviour in New Zealand adolescent rugby union players.

The purpose of this study was to survey high school rugby players from a range of ethnic, geographic and socioeconomic backgrounds in New Zealand (NZ) to gain an understanding of concussion knowledge, awareness of NZ Rugby's (NZR) guidelines and attitudes towards reporting behaviours. Male and female high school rugby players (n= 416) from across NZ were surveyed. The findings indicated that 69% of players had sustained a suspected concussion, and 31% had received a medical diagnosis of concussion. 63% of players indicated they were aware of NZR's guidelines. Maori and Pasifika players were less likely to be aware of the guidelines compared to NZ European, Adjusted OR 0.5, p = 0.03. Guideline awareness was significantly higher for those from high decile schools when compared to low (Unadjusted OR 1.63, p = 0.04); however, when ethnicity and school locations were controlled for this became non-significant (Adjusted OR= 1.3, p=0.37). The coach was the key individual for the provision of concussion information and disclosure of symptoms for players. The findings of this study will inform the development and delivery of NZR's community concussion initiative and how these examined factors influence a high school player's concussion knowledge and reporting behaviour.

The associations of early specialisation and sport volume with musculoskeletal injury in New Zealand children.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate associations of early specialisation (highly specialised before age 13 years) and sport participation volume with injury history in New Zealand children. DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey study. METHODS: Children attending a national sports competition were invited to complete a questionnaire capturing specialisation level (high, moderate or low), participation volume and injury history. Multiple logistic regression was used to investigate associations between variables. RESULTS: Nine hundred and fourteen children (538 female) completed the questionnaire. After adjusting for age, sex and hours of weekly sport participation, the odds of reporting an injury history were not significantly higher for early specialised children compared to children categorised as low specialisation (OR=0.88; CI=0.59-1.31; p=0.53). Participating in more hours of sport per week than age in years (OR=2.42; CI=1.27-4.62; p=0.02), playing one sport for more than 8 months of the year (OR=1.60; CI=1.07-2.36; p=0.02), or exceeding a 2:1 weekly ratio of organised sport to recreational free-play hours (OR=1.52; CI=1.08-2.15; p=0.02), increased the odds of reporting a 'gradual onset injury'. CONCLUSION: Early specialisation in one sport did not increase the odds of reporting a history of injury. Exceeding currently recommended sport participation volumes was associated with increased odds of reporting a history of gradual onset injury.