An In-Depth Analysis of Canadian Medical Students and Physicians Concussion Knowledge: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Research has shown that concussion education in a proportion of Canadian medical school curriculums is lacking. The objective of this study was to measure concussion knowledge among medical trainees, while comparing the impact of lecture-based and clinical learning on their concussion knowledge scores. Methods: A validated concussion knowledge survey was distributed to MS1, MS2, MS3, and MS4 students, as well as post-graduate learners in family medicine, pediatrics, and emergency medicine. Results: Participants with clinical learning experience (MS3 + MS4 + Residents) scored significantly higher (p < 0.05) in the concussion knowledge test when compared to pre-clinical (MS1 + MS2) participants. 42.2% of participants learned about concussions from a lecture and 28.1% learned from a student organized interest group. Only 25% of participants correctly identified the red flags associated with a concussion. Conclusion: More emphasis should be placed on teaching concussion diagnosis and management in medical education.