Background: In North America, more than 650 000 children present to hospital emergency departments (ED) annually, for concussions. Concussion, is defined as a complex pathophysiologic process affecting the brain, induced by biomechanical forces due to either a direct or indirect blow, resulting in the impairment of neurologic function with clinical symptoms. Signs and symptoms may include headache, nausea, sensitivity to light or noise, blurred vision and in some instances loss of consciousness. While most children recover, concussions may lead to prolonged recovery, lasting several months to over a year in rare cases. 

While concussion organizations in Canada do provide accurate information for health consumers about pediatric concussions, the information can be complex and difficult to understand. Lack of accurate, user-friendly, and understandable information about pediatric concussion is problematic and may result in unnecessary ED visits and poor outcomes for children. To maximize health system resources and improve patient outcomes, it is imperative that research knowledge translates into action – a process called knowledge translation (KT). KT for healthcare consumers uses tools, (e.g. pamphlets, eBooks) to present research-based information in user-friendly language and formats. 

To improve KT of pediatric concussion, an environmental scan (ES) will be conducted to develop an understanding of what KT tools about pediatric concussion are currently available in Canada.  

Methods: An ES will identify what information tools are currently available in Canada about pediatric concussion. The research question underpinning this ES is: What English-language information/KT tools about pediatric concussion are currently available in Canada? First, KT tools and information resources about pediatric concussion in Canada will be identified via Google search engine and Internet-based app stores (Apple and Google Play). Second, key informants at concussion organizations (e.g. Parachute Canada) will be identified and consulted to solicit known examples of relevant KT tools that are not available through our searches and to further inquire about the tools that  are available. Inclusion criteria will be purposefully broad in order to ensure the full breadth of evidence is considered (e.g. no specific population, no specific type of tool). 

Planned Analysis: Data tables will be developed. Content analysis will be used to extract desired information from both verbal and written sources by systematically and objectively identifying specific characteristics of the material (e.g. information format, audience).

Anticipated Outcomes: This ES will generate three outcomes: (i) identify and synthesize evidence about existing KT tools for pediatric concussion; (ii) identify gaps among these tools; and (iii) provide a detailed taxonomy of educational tools about pediatric concussion. These findings will be crucial to the subsequent phases of this research to develop a new innovative KT tool about pediatric concussion that addresses the gaps identified in this scan.

An environmental scan of KT tools about pediatric concussion in Canada: protocol