Key result
Among 106 professional football players who believed they suffered a concussion, 82.1% did not seek medical attention, most commonly because they felt it was not serious or feared missing games.
Why the study?
Why do professional football players choose not to seek medical attention for presumed concussions?
Population
454 male professional football players in preseason Canadian Football League training camps
Design
Cross-sectional
Authors
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High non-reporting of suspected concussions in professional football warrants education on risks; leaves open whether interventions improve reporting rates.
Cross-Sectional (n=454)
Yes
Why do professional football players choose not to seek medical attention for presumed concussions?
A large proportion of professional football players who suspect they have a concussion do not report it, primarily because they underestimate its severity or fear being removed from play.
Delaney et al. (2017) conducted a cross-sectional in Concussion (n=454). Presumed concussion was evaluated on Not seeking medical attention for a presumed concussion. Among 106 professional football players who believed they suffered a concussion, 82.1% did not seek medical attention, most commonly because they felt it was not serious or feared missing games.