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Barnes A, Rumbold JL, Olusoga P. Attitudes towards protective headgear in UK rugby union players. BMJ Open Sport Exerc Med. 2017;3(1):e000255doi: 10.1136/bmjsem-2017-000255.
Barnes, A., Rumbold, J. L., & Olusoga, P. (2017). Attitudes towards protective headgear in UK rugby union players. BMJ open sport & exercise medicine, 3(1), e000255. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjsem-2017-000255
Barnes, Andrew, et al. "Attitudes towards protective headgear in UK rugby union players." BMJ open sport & exercise medicine vol. 3,1 (2017): e000255. doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjsem-2017-000255
Barnes A, Rumbold JL, Olusoga P. Attitudes towards protective headgear in UK rugby union players. BMJ Open Sport Exerc Med. 2017 Oct 11;3(1):e000255. doi: 10.1136/bmjsem-2017-000255. eCollection 2017. PMID: 29081983; PMCID: PMC5652465.
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BMJ Open Sport Exerc Med. 2017 Oct 11;3(1):e000255. doi: 10.1136/bmjsem-2017-000255. eCollection 2017.

Attitudes towards protective headgear in UK rugby union players.

BMJ open sport & exercise medicine

Andrew Barnes, James L Rumbold, Peter Olusoga

Affiliations

  1. Academy of Sport and Physical Activity, Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield, UK.

PMID: 29081983 PMCID: PMC5652465 DOI: 10.1136/bmjsem-2017-000255

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIM: Concussions in rugby union pose a major threat to player welfare. Research has found protective headgear offers no significant protection against concussions but suggests a large proportion of players perceive headgear to be effective in preventing concussions. This study aimed to explore UK rugby union players' attitudes towards wearing protective headgear.

METHODS: 545 rugby union players (85% male) from a range of playing standards completed an online survey. Quantitative and qualitative data were collected on player attitudes towards protective headgear use. Descriptive statistics, multiple regressions and content analysis were used to analyse the responses.

RESULTS: 37% of players believed that headgear was effective in preventing head injuries. Playing group was found to be inversely associated with headgear effectiveness (∆

CONCLUSIONS: There appears to be a good awareness in UK players that protective headgear is not effective at preventing concussions. Continued education is vital to ensure players are fully aware of the limitations of headgear, and players who wear it do not engage in overly reckless behaviours as a result.

Keywords: concussion; rugby; sport and exercise psychology; sporting injuries

Conflict of interest statement

Competing interests: None declared.

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