Table 4.
Standardized instruments, online courses, and resources available for assessing or monitoring patients experiencing concussion symptoms
| DOMAIN TO BE ASSESSED OR MONITORED | REQUIRED ASSESSSMENT OR RESOURCE | COMMENTS | AVAILABILITY |
|---|---|---|---|
| For physicians | |||
| • Comprehensive general assessment | SCAT3* | Complete tool developed in 2013; it has detailed instructions for evaluation | www.parachutecanada.org/downloads/resources/SCAT3.pdf |
| • General assessment of children | ChildSCAT3 | Specific version for children 5 to 12 y old | www.parachutecanada.org/downloads/resources/SCAT3-child.pdf |
| • Alternative quick medical assessment and information resource | ACE | Alternative tool for assessment, presented as a physician office version | www.cdc.gov/concussion/headsup/pdf/ACE-a.pdf |
| • Posttraumatic amnesia | A-WPTAS | Picture recognition included | http://onf.org/system/attachments/60/original/Guidelines_for_Mild_Traumatic_brain_Injury_and_Persistent_Symptoms.pdf (page 44) |
| • Static postural stability | BESS | Fully explained BESS test with photos included | www.glata.org/documents/filelibrary/glata_2014_presentations/bESSProtocol_E5D9286115A3C.pdf |
| • Clinical information | ANN | Summary of evidence-based management for clinicians | www.aan.com/uploadedFiles/Website_Library_Assets/Documents/3Practice_Management/5Patient_Resources/1For_your_Patient/6_Sports_Concussion_Toolkit/evaluation.pdf |
| • Tool to identify concussion in children, youth, and adults | Pocket concussion recognition card, 2013 | Summary of evaluative steps based on the consensus statement for concussion in sports | http://links.lww.com/JSM/A32 |
| • Online course | Heads Up for physicians | 5-step course with evaluation included | www.preventingconcussions.org |
| For family members, teachers, and coaches | |||
| • Comprehensive information resource (English and French) | MCH Trauma Concussion Kit | Information brochure and pocket cards; game-specific suggested steps for return to play | www.thechildren.com/health-info/trauma/mch-trauma-concussion-kit |
| • Education | Safety information, teaching activities, and resources | For home, school, or community educational activities | www.parachutecanada.org |
| • Guidelines and definitions | ANN | Summary of evidence-based evaluation and management for patients and families | www.aan.com/Guidelines/Home/GetGuidelineContent/586 |
| • Educational videos for different audiences | Sport Concussion Library | Registration and account creation is required | www.sportconcussionlibrary.com |
| • Online course | Heads Up | 5-step course for the general public | www.cdc.gov/concussion/Headsup/Training/index.html |
ACE—Acute Concussion Evaluation, ANN—American Academy of Neurology, A-WPTAS—Abbreviated Westmead Post Traumatic Amnesia Scale, BESS—Balance Error Scoring System, MCH—Montreal Children’s Hospital, MHI—mild head injury, SCAT3—Sport Concussion Assessment Tool, version 3.
*
The SCAT3 can be used for specific assessment of MHI symptoms, sideline diagnosis of concussion (Maddocks score), balance assessment (modified BESS test), and evaluation of cognition, memory, concentration, and coordination.