{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,18]],"date-time":"2026-08-18T04:51:29Z","timestamp":1787028689473,"version":"build-2736575974"},"reference-count":58,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"4","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2024,12,18]],"date-time":"2024-12-18T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1734480000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"The American part of the study was partially funded by a University of Delaware Unidel Distinguished Graduate Scholars Fellowship and a University of Delaware Department of Kinesiology and Applied Physiology Dissertation Grant"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["JFMK"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Background and Objectives: Collision-sport athletes, such as rugby players, are at risk of sport-related concussion (SRC). Women are known to be at higher risk of SRC and may experience more severe and chronic symptomology than men. Knowledge of the factors that affect a player\u2019s disclosure of their concussive symptoms could help to inform strategies to improve compliance with reporting and management of head injuries. The aim of this study was to investigate the factors that may impact women rugby players\u2019 disclosure of a concussion. Methods: Twenty-eight adult (\u226518 years of age) elite and semi-elite women rugby players from the UK and Ireland (n = 17) and the United States (n = 11) were interviewed on their playing background and SRC experience in women\u2019s rugby via one-on-one interviews (UK and Ireland) or an online questionnaire (US). Results: SRC data were analysed inductively using a thematic analysis approach to determine the potential reasons for SRC non-disclosure in women\u2019s rugby. Four main themes were identified which may influence a player\u2019s SRC non-disclosure: 1. women rugby players are self-managing SRC; 2. work-related concerns impact on SRC disclosure; 3. players and support staff lack knowledge on SRC management; and 4. poor internal and external communication affect the support players receive when injured. Conclusions: The findings were consistent across players from different countries. This research highlighted several factors that may impact on women rugby players\u2019 disclosure of SRC regardless of country of origin (UK, Ireland, or US) and access to concussion care. Coaches and management teams should be aware of these reasons, which may enhance how they discuss and manage concussion. There is a clear need for further education on concussion for players and support staff and for strategies to create environments where women can openly discuss their concussion concerns.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/jfmk9040277","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2024,12,18]],"date-time":"2024-12-18T08:56:32Z","timestamp":1734512192000},"page":"277","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":5,"title":["Factors Affecting Sport-Related Concussion Non-Disclosure in Women\u2019s Rugby\u2014A Multi-Country Qualitative Analysis"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"9","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-5505-7130","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Lisa","family":"Ryan","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Sport, Exercise and Nutrition, School of Science and Computing, Atlantic Technological University, Dublin Rd., H91 T8NW Galway, Ireland"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-6548-9634","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Ed","family":"Daly","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Sport, Exercise and Nutrition, School of Science and Computing, Atlantic Technological University, Dublin Rd., H91 T8NW Galway, Ireland"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-4599-8543","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Katherine","family":"Hunzinger","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Exercise Science, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19144, USA"},{"name":"Jefferson Center for Injury Research & Prevention, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19144, USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2024,12,18]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","unstructured":"World Rugby (2024, September 10). 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