OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of environmental distractions on the cognitive subcomponents of the Sport Concussion Assessment Tool 6 (SCAT6). DESIGN: Retrospective chart review. SETTING: Baseline testing completed during preseason physical examinations (PPEs) in an athletic training room. PARTICIPANTS: Ninety male youth ice hockey players (13-18 years). INDEPENDENT VARIABLES: Noise, distractions, and observed participant attention recorded by the certified athletic trainer (AT). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Total cognitive score; subcomponent SCAT6 scores, including orientation, immediate memory, digits backwards, and the months backward scores; total concentration score; and delayed recall score. RESULTS: The months in reverse order score was significantly associated with whether the testing environment was quiet, that is, louder environments were associated with greater time to complete the task ( P = 0.040). The concentration score was significantly associated with whether the participant was observed to have paid attention ( P = 0.005). The total cognitive score correlated significantly with whether the participant was observed to be paying attention, that is, lower scores were associated with lower reported attention ( P = 0.017). CONCLUSIONS: Preseason SCAT6 testing ideally should be administered in a quiet, distraction-free environment whenever possible.
Lickfeld et al. (Fri,) studied this question.