Chiropractic Physicians' Knowledge of Pediatric Concussions

Recent legislation in the state of Ohio now allows chiropractic physicians who possess certain credentials to both diagnose and clear young patients who have sustained concussions. Unfortunately, little if any existing research examines the knowledge and abilities of chiropractic physicians regarding the management of this condition. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to provide a general overview of chiropractic physicians’ knowledge regarding the diagnosis and management of pediatric concussions. A survey was emailed to 1,344 chiropractors in the state of Ohio. Of those who were contacted, 71 completed the survey. The survey included questions regarding demographics, patient scenarios, and concussion management. Although 66.7% of chiropractors qualified to care for concussions reported the utilization of guidelines, the rate dropped to 35.2% when all respondents were included. There were statistically significant differences concerning familiarity with the Graded Symptom Checklist (p=0.001) and the Post-Concussion Symptom Scale (p=0.007). In addition, the results of a question regarding the implementation of graduated return-to-play protocols were found to be borderline significant (p=0.06).The results of the study indicated that chiropractors who possess the credentials required by law are more knowledgeable regarding concussion diagnosis and management than those who do not.