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Abstract

Students with a concussion may experience challenges when returning to school and completing schoolwork. Therefore, students may require temporary academic support throughout the recovery process. The purpose of this study was to examine school administrators’ perceptions of the return to school process and provision of academic adjustments (AA) after concussion. Online surveys were analyzed using a series of descriptive, chi-square, and Mann Whitney tests. School administrators strongly agreed a concussion can affect school performance and were supportive of providing AA for symptomatic students. More school administrators with access to an athletic trainer and who completed concussion training had an established team to monitor concussions and reported students had received AA after concussion. To better prepare school professionals and enhance the support for students after a concussion, school administrators can develop a school-based concussion team, organize in-service training on concussion, and identify pertinent school and district-based resources to facilitate this care.

Author's Biographies

Dr. Tricia Kasamatsu is an Associate Professor in the Department of Kinesiology and Co-Clinical Coordinator of the Athletic Training Program at California State University, Fullerton. Her primary research interest includes concussion management in schools, which stems from her previous experience as a credentialed secondary school science teacher and athletic trainer.

Dr. Tamara Valovich McLeod is a Professor and Director of the Athletic Training Program, Research Professor in the School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona, and the John P. Wood, D.O., Endowed Chair for Sports Medicine at A.T. Still University in Mesa, Arizona. Dr. McLeod was a contributing author for the NATA Position Statement on the Management of Sport-Related Concussion, the lead author on the NATA Position Statement on the Prevention of Pediatric Overuse Injuries, and a consultant and contributing author on the Appropriate Medical Coverage for Secondary School-Aged Athletes.

Dr. Johna Register-Mihalik is an Associate Professor and research scientist in the Department of Exercise and Sport Science, Matthew Gfeller Traumatic Brain Injury Research Center, and the Injury Prevention Research Center at UNC-Chapel Hill. She has published over 50 articles and received both federal and foundation grants related to concussion in sports. Her primary research interest includes concussion prevention and management for the student-athlete.

Dr. Cailee Welch Bacon is an Associate Professor in the Athletic Training Programs and a Research Associate Professor in the School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona at A.T. Still University. Her research focus includes understanding clinical practice patterns of stakeholders that have a role in the concussion management team.

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