Using the health belief model to predict concussion-reporting intentions and behaviour

Purpose To determine whether Health Belief Model (HBM) factors predict concussion-reporting intentions and behaviour.Methods: Participants completed a cross-sectional survey to measure the HBM constructs of concussion knowledge, perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, perceived benefits, perceived barriers, and cues to action. We also asked participants to indicate their concussion-reporting intentions and behaviourfor symptom and concussion reporting. Four separate multivariable regressions were conducted to predict concussion-reporting intentions and behaviour based on HBM constructs.Results: Cues to action (beta = 0.25,p= .016) predicted symptom reporting intentions (F-7,F-318 = 4.44,p< .001, R-2 = 0.089), while perceived benefits (beta = 0.12,p= .018), perceived barriers (beta = -0.11,p= .034) and cues to action (beta = 0.29,p< .001) predicted concussion-reporting intentions (F-7,F-318 = 11.34,p< .001, R-2 = 0.200). The HBM did not predict symptom or concussion-reporting behavior (symptom: X-2 = 5.51,p= .138, Nagelkerke R-2 = 0.096; concussion: X-2 = 5.20,p= .157, Nagelkerke R-2 = 0.159).Conclusions: Strategies to reduce perceived barriers and increase benefits of reporting concussion symptoms may improve reporting intentions. This may include cues to action in sharing a positive view toward long-term health and dispelling that reporting a concussion would let down teammates. .