Determinates of Knowledge of Signs, Symptoms, and Consequences as Well as Attitudes Toward Musculoskeletal Injury Disclosure

Despite known consequences of musculoskeletal (MSK) injury during adolescence, appropriate interventions to reduce MSK-related pain and disability are limited. A proposed solution would be to improve early care seeking following a suspected MSK injury to prevent development of a more severe injury. Previous research has determined knowledge of signs and symptoms and consequences of MSK injury and attitudes toward disclosure affect intention to disclose future MSK injury. The purpose of this survey of 564 athletes (male = 58.2%, age = 15.8 [1.8]) was to explore determinants of adolescent athletes’ knowledge of MSK injury signs and symptoms as well as attitudes toward MSK injury disclosure such as age, gender, race, socioeconomic status as a means for identifying target populations that may benefit from educational programing to increase MSK injury intentionality. Older athletes (β = 0.36, p = .033), those with a history of injury (β = 1.58, p = .045) and higher socioeconomic status had greater knowledge of signs and symptoms and consequences of MSK injury. Meanwhile, black respondents had more positive attitudes toward disclosure (β = 2.30, p = .030). Younger athletes and those without a history of MSK injury benefit from future educational programming targeting young athletes with potential focus on those without a previous MSK injury to try and improve early help-seeking following MSK injury.