We aimed to evaluate the self-reported concussion knowledge of the general population, to observe and describe any gaps in the knowledge and misconceptions, and to identify the variables that influence the concussion knowledge. 

Concussion represents 80-90% of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) causes and its higher incidence is related to sports. The United States Centers for Disease Control estimates a TBI annual incidence ranging from 1.6 to 3.8 million cases, including concussions related to sport. Thus, it is seen as a public health priority. Adequate general population knowledge is a critical issue to correct diagnosis and management of concussion.  

We conducted a cross-sectional descriptive survey. A Concussion knowledge Questionnaire (CKQ) was created to capture data on concussion identification and causes, concussion consequences, recovery and management, and sport-related concussion The number of the sample correct and incorrect answers was calculated to measure the percent of concussion knowledge by CKQ domain.

The sample was formed by 1247 Brazilian adults with a mean age of 41.7 (±11.8) years and high level of schooling. The total score in the CKQ was a mean of 20 (±10) points, which corresponds to a rate of 41.6% of correct answers. Thus, there is poor knowledge in all domains of the CKQ. Only 35.5% of correct answers were registered regarding the main symptoms of a concussion. Similarly, the higher number of incorrect answers was related to questions about recovery and management of a concussion.

Our study is the first to examine the concussion knowledge in a sample of Brazilian adults and provide useful information for development of concussion education programs. Our findings suggest very poor concussion knowledge in sample studied. More larger and meaningful research is needed to investigate the concussion knowledge and the variables that may interfere in the knowledge of the Brazilian general.