B - 23 Surveying Public Perceptions about the Coverage of Sports Concussion in the Media

Abstract Objective Public awareness of sports concussion is key for injury management. This awareness is shaped by media reporting and has been critiqued for different reasons by health professionals and sport stakeholders. The community’s view about this reporting is unknown. Methods 157 community volunteers completed an online survey, including a purpose-built multi-item measure of perceptions of sports concussion media portrayal (PoSCoMP). The PoSCoMP score was compared for groups based on concussion history, concussion education, concussion knowledge, playing a concussion-risk sport, or regular sports media consumption. Item consensus (endorsement by >50% of the sample) and free-text responses were descriptively analysed. Results The PoSCoMP had acceptable internal consistency (α > 0.79). One statistically significant group difference was found (p < 0.05). Compared to people with no concussion history, people with a concussion history had a more negative perception of the media coverage (Cohen’s d = 0.53 [medium effect]). There were nine commonly agreed perceptions (e.g., important for player safety), and four commonly disagreed perceptions (e.g., ignored in some sports). The free-text responses urged change in the media coverage of sports concussion, with some perceiving this as already underway. Conclusion Community members’ views about the media portrayal of sports concussion are largely unaffected by individual differences and share commonalities with the views of sport stakeholders and health professionals. Future efforts to improve public awareness of concussion through media reporting should consider the public’s position on this coverage. This could lead to changes that have the public’s support and are more effective in increasing public injury awareness.