Exploring Concussion Knowledge and Behaviours in UK Amateur Mountain Biking
You are invited to take part in a research study. Before you decide whether to take part it is important for you to understand why the research is being done and what it will involve. Please take time to read the following information carefully. Talk to others about the study if you wish. Contact me if there is anything that is not clear or if you would like more information. Take time to decide whether you wish to take part.
What is the purpose of the study?
The purpose of this study is to explore concussion knowledge, attitudes, and self-reported behaviours among UK amateur mountain bikers. Concussion is a common but often under-reported injury in mountain biking, particularly at amateur level where formal medical support is not usually available.
This study aims to better understand how riders recognise concussion, how they make decisions about returning to riding after a head injury, and whether there are gaps between awareness and behaviour. Approximately 50 participants are expected to take part in this study.
Why have I been asked to take part?
You have been invited to take part because you:
- are aged 18 years or over
- are based in the United Kingdom
- identify as an amateur (non-professional) mountain biker who rides off-road at least once per month
Do I have to take part?
No, it is up to you to decide whether to take part. If you do decide to take part, you can simply tick the consent box before continuing to the questionnaire. You are still free to withdraw before submission of the questionnaire and without giving a reason.
What will happen if I take part?
If you agree to take part, you will be asked to complete an online questionnaire. The questionnaire will take approximately 10–15 minutes to complete and can be completed using a smartphone, tablet, or computer.
The questionnaire will include questions about:
- your mountain biking experience
- previous crashes or suspected head injuries
- knowledge of concussion symptoms and mechanisms
- decisions about returning to riding following head injury
You may skip any question you do not wish to answer. You must complete the questionnaire and press the submit button at the end of the survey for your data to be used in the study.
What are the possible benefits of taking part?
There are no direct benefits to you from taking part. However, the findings may help improve understanding of concussion awareness and behaviours in amateur mountain biking and may contribute to future education or prevention efforts.
What are the possible disadvantages and risks of taking part?
We do not think that there are any disadvantages, however if you agree to participate, you will be required to complete the survey, which should take no longer than 15 minutes.
Some participants may experience mild emotional discomfort when reflecting on previous crashes or head injuries. If this occurs, you may skip questions or stop the questionnaire at any time.
Will my taking part in the study be confidential?
All the information we collect during the research will be kept confidential and there are strict laws which safeguard your privacy at every stage.
How will we use information about you?
Your data is anonymised after you have submitted the questionnaire and so it is not possible to identify individual responses. Once the study has finished, a record of results will be kept so results can be calculated. Results will be written in a way that no-one can work out that you took part in the study.
What are the choices about how your information is used?
If you decide you no longer want to take part, you are free to withdraw before submission of the questionnaire and without giving a reason. Once submitted, participants are unable to request withdrawal of their data as it will no longer be possible to identify or remove individual responses.
You can find out more about how we use your information from our privacy notice. This is included in this information pack.
What happens when the study is finished?
When the study is finished, anonymised data will be stored by Edinburgh Napier University. These anonymised data may be made available to other researchers for further analysis once the results of the research have been published. This would only be after an official request, consideration of suitability for sharing, and subject to a data sharing agreement between Edinburgh Napier University and the researcher requesting the data. The data will be stored for at least 10 years.
What will happen to the results of the study?
The data will be analysed and written up within an MSc dissertation project and the findings may be published in healthcare journals and presented at conferences. However, it will not be possible to identify any individual participant from these reports or publications. Quotes may be used in the presentation of findings but names will be replaced with pseudonyms so these will not be identifiable to an individual.
Who is organising the research and why?
The principal investigator organising the study is Stuart Reid, an MSc Physiotherapy student at Edinburgh Napier University with a special interest in concussion. This project is being conducted as part of his MSc Dissertation.
Who has reviewed the study?
A favourable ethical opinion has been obtained from the School of Health and Social Care Research and Integrity Committee at Edinburgh Napier University (REF: MSC013-2026).
Researcher contact details
If you have further questions about the study, please contact: Stuart Reid – 40483589@live.napier.ac.uk or Dr Mike Leavitt, M.Leavitt@napier.ac.uk
Independent contact details
If you would like to discuss this study with an independent person please contact: Dr Stephanie Valentine, Senior Research Fellow (Edinburgh Napier University) at S.Valentin@napier.ac.uk
Done, hope it helps get some more awareness and information on it. Must be quite regular in our sport
Done.
Interesting to see a wider survey about how people in MTB consider all crashes rather than just head impacts.
Some people are incredibly blase about crashing seemingly every other ride. And bikes are so fast these days [old man yells at cloud].
Yes they can cover themselves in D30 and full face helmets, but that doesnt prevent concussions, or collar bones, or broken wrists, or…
Competitive downhill I can totally understand that being the norm – on a closed course with medical facilities. And the basic concept is repeated practise and pushing the limit of speed.
But for backcountry/trail type riding, I’ve always thought it to be a reckless attitude to take when:
a) you are a long time or way from rescue, and
b) a crash by definition you are out of control, potentially on a shared use or unknown trail.
Bold of you to assume you have that many mountain bikers in here.
Done, this can only be a good thing, so well done to everyone involved.
Done. I’ve been on both sides of this, both as the one with the malfunctioning/sore head and the one trying to moderate the activity of someone with a sore head.
‘If in doubt, sit them out’.
Timely. Just getting into my first experience of dealing with this (as parent of someone about 3 days into having concussion). Will take a look and would be interested in learning more.
Completed.
There was a typo and the possibility to provide a couple of potentially internally incompatible answers.
It was a good questionnaire that got me thinking that general knowledge of concussion and traumatic brain injury (TBI) may be even poorer than my vague recollections of first aid training from way back in the day and TBI research from a couple of years ago.
I think the title could have done with being more generic. It’s probably generated more responses from those that have suffered head injuries or have known others with injuries which might skew the results towards more awareness.
For example, I read the original post and went to the start of the survey, and thought that it looks worth doing later, and promptly forgot about it, as I’ve not had a head injury. Those that have had concussion are more likely to have completed it.
Still a massively interesting and useful study subject though.
Happy to respond though the survey felt more like information provision than gathering. I think most if not all the guys I ride with have broken bones at some point though I can only think of a couple of probable concussions. (And I’ve had a poretty serious one from other activities, upshot six months of driving). Maybe more, thinking for a second or two, but outweighed by more serious ride stopping (spinal) injuries. Pretty sobering actually considering that this is middleaged blokes pootling about on the moor, albeit over quite a few years.