McLeod Shreya, West Stephen W, Dane Kathryn, Tadmor Daniel, Jones Ben, Lee Jinho, Iverson Grant L, Gardner Andrew J
School of Medicine and Public Health, College of Health, Medicine, & Wellbeing, The University of Newcastle, Australia; Discipline of Physiotherapy, School of Allied Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Australian Catholic University, Australia.
Centre for Health, and Injury and Illness Prevention in Sport, University of Bath, United Kingdom; UK Collaborating Centre on Injury and Illness Prevention in Sport, University of Bath, United Kingdom; Sport Injury Prevention Research Centre, Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, Canada.
J Sci Med Sport. 2025 Sep;28(9):707-711. doi: 10.1016/j.jsams.2025.04.002. Epub 2025 Apr 15.
This study investigated the disclosure and reasons for non-disclosure of possible concussions and their symptoms in National Rugby League Women's (NRLW) Premiership players in Australia.
Cross sectional survey.
During the 2022 NRLW season, NRLW players were invited to participate in a voluntary, anonymous, online survey exploring (i) player demographics, (ii) rugby playing history, (iii) concussion disclosure, and (iv) instances of, and reasons for, non-disclosure of possible concussions to medical staff during the past two seasons. Logistic regression analyses were used to identify reasons for non-disclosure of possible concussions in NRLW players.
Of the 132 eligible participants, 86 players responded to the survey and 63 % (n = 54/86) reported that they always disclosed a possible concussion during the past two seasons. A substantial number of NRLW players surveyed (n = 32/86, 37 %) did not disclose a possible concussion to their team or medical staff on one or more occasions. Sixty-three players (73 %) always reported symptoms during a medical assessment. Twenty-three players (27 %) did not disclose their symptoms during a medical assessment, primarily during or after a game or training session (n = 12/23, 52 %). Of the players who did not disclose their possible concussion symptoms, the two main reasons for non-disclosure were 'not wanting to be ruled out of the game or training session' (n = 8/23,35 %) and not being 'sure if the symptoms were related to concussion' (n = 8/23, 35 %). Most surveyed players (n = 74/86, 86 %) reported attending mandatory concussion education sessions at their respective clubs.
We found high rates of non-disclosure amongst NRLW players, which is inconsistent with previous research suggesting that women are more aware of their symptoms than men and more likely to disclose their concussions. Not wanting to be ruled out of the game or training session and being unsure if the symptoms were related to concussion were the two most common reasons for nondisclosure. Concussion education initiatives could promote a supportive culture fostering disclosure amongst all stakeholders to ensure optimal player welfare.
本研究调查了澳大利亚国家橄榄球联盟女子（NRLW）超级联赛球员中可能发生的脑震荡及其症状的披露情况和未披露的原因。
横断面调查。
在2022年NRLW赛季期间，邀请NRLW球员参与一项自愿、匿名的在线调查，该调查探讨了（i）球员人口统计学特征，（ii）橄榄球比赛历史，（iii）脑震荡披露情况，以及（iv）在过去两个赛季中未向医务人员披露可能发生的脑震荡的情况及原因。采用逻辑回归分析来确定NRLW球员未披露可能发生的脑震荡的原因。
在132名符合条件的参与者中，86名球员回复了调查，63%（n = 54/86）报告称在过去两个赛季中他们总是会披露可能发生的脑震荡。大量接受调查的NRLW球员（n = 32/86，37%）在一个或多个场合未向其团队或医务人员披露可能发生的脑震荡。63名球员（73%）在医学评估中总是报告有症状。23名球员（27%）在医学评估中未披露其症状，主要是在比赛或训练期间或之后（n = 12/23，52%）。在未披露可能发生的脑震荡症状的球员中，未披露的两个主要原因是“不想被排除在比赛或训练之外”（n = 8/23，35%）以及不确定症状是否与脑震荡有关（n = 8/23，35%）。大多数接受调查的球员（n = 74/86，86%）报告称参加了各自俱乐部的强制性脑震荡教育课程。
我们发现NRLW球员中未披露情况的发生率很高，这与之前的研究结果不一致，之前的研究表明女性比男性更了解自己的症状，并且更有可能披露自己的脑震荡情况。不想被排除在比赛或训练之外以及不确定症状是否与脑震荡有关是未披露情况的两个最常见原因。脑震荡教育倡议可以促进一种支持性文化，促使所有利益相关者进行披露，以确保球员的最佳福利。
