801 EP014 – Enhancing concussion prevention: findings from an international survey of French-speaking athletes on sport-related concussion characteristics

Background Sport-related concussions (SRCs) pose significant physical, emotional, and economic burdens on athletes and the sports community. With the long-lasting consequences of SRCs, effective prevention strategies are imperative. Objective To investigate the relationship between demographic data, history of concussion and sports' characteristics with the number of SRC, symptoms' duration and resting period. Design Cross-sectional online survey Setting A three-month online survey was conducted among athletes in five French-speaking countries. The survey was created on an online platform and distributed through institutional networks, professional associations, regional clubs, and research centers. Communication efforts included newsletters and social media platforms. Participants Athletes over 14 years old. Main Outcome Measurements Data on demographic, history of concussion, sport category (high-risk, moderate-risk, low-risk), sport level, symptoms duration and recovery duration were extracted from the database. We investigated if the number of SRC, duration of symptoms and duration of recovery period differ depending to demographics, sport category and sport level. Results Out of the 998 participating athletes, 939 complete answers were analysed with balanced gender distribution. The duration of symptoms was longer for women (132.54±21.34 days) compared to men (81.37±19.93 days; z=-4.674, p2=39.718, pConclusions These findings highlight the need for tailored prevention strategies in high-risk sports and among athletes. Additionally, the prolonged symptom duration exceeding recommended recovery periods raises crucial concerns in SRC management, emphasizing the importance of preventive measures.