prolongada de vida
OBJETIVOS DE LA INVESTIGACION
23.4 22.6 18.2 22.0
Yetm'
of Education(M)
6.1 3.9 5.1 5.5Hours
Playing Sport
(M)
8.3 6.9 7.2 7.9
Respondents ranged in age from 17 -33 years (M =22.0 years), with Senior I players being older on average (M = 23 .4 years) than either Senior 11 or Colts players (refer Table 12). Those comprising Senior I teams recorded the longest periods of education (M = 6.1
years), with Colts players averaging slightly less time in either secondary or tertiary
education (M= 5.1 years), attributed primarily to their youth. The average time participants spent each week engaged in sport-related activities (including rugby) was similar across the
CHAPTER 7 MElHOD -PART I
Senior 11 and Colts grades (refer Table 12) with Senior I players clearly spending the
longest duration
(
M= 8.3 hours) in sporting activities.7.3.3 The Assessing and Managing Head Injury Questionnaire (AMQ) The AMQ was distributed to 26 coaches, 2 trainers,
6
managers, and5
physiotherapists involved in the regional club grade rugby competition. Copies of the questionnaire were also sent to all 40 club grade referees from the Manawatu Rugby
Referees Association.
Table 13.
Respondents
au?r� ageand
gradeinwlud with
as afonaion of their role within
club rugbj.Role o/Respondent Oxuh Trainer ManaW
Physiotherapist
Re/erre Total Age(M)
39.9 5 1.0 44.5 34.0 39. 1 39.5 Senior!(n)
3 1 1 2 5 12 Larrer Grade(n)
8 0 1 1 16 26 Total
(N)
1 1 1 2 3 21 38As seen in Table 13, just under half of the 79 questionnaires distributed were returned
(
N=38)
. Respondents ranged in age from 22 -56
years(M= 39.5
years) with the vast majority being male (n=36)
. Physiotherapists represented the youngest age group (M- 34years), followed by referees and then coaches (refer Table 13). As a function of role, referees completed
55%
of AMQ's with just under a third of completed questionnaires (29%) returned from coaches.The category of 'Lower Grades' was introduced to encompass those in a grade lower than Senior I level or those indicating involvement in more than one grade (excluding
GIAPTER 7 ME1HOD -PART I
Senior 1). As Table 13 illustrates, respondents involved with the lower grades completed 68% of the questionnaires, with the remainder returned from those involved with Senior I rugby.
7.4 PROCEDURE
Written consent for the proposed research was first obtained from the Manager of Rugby Services of the NZRFU, prior to approaching the regional rugby organisation. Preliminary discussions were then held with the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and the Rugby Development Officer (RDO) of the MRFU regarding both phases of the research. This section outlines the procedures followed in executing Phase I of the current research after approval was obtained from the MRFU.
7.4. 1 The Rugby Players Questionnaire {RPQ}
The 1998 AdministratilJn
The first RPQ was to be administered prior to the commencement of the 1999 season in order to assess MTBI's incurred during the previous season. To identify any problem areas with the questionnaire, a pilot version was administered in January of 1999 prior to pre-season training to prospective members of a Senior I club grade team. These
respondents were asked to complete the questionnaire and provide comments regarding the ease of completion, clarity of questions, and whether any alterations needed to be made to general format and structure. Very few alterations were required, apart from additional clarification of one or two questions and deletion of one item deemed unnecessary.
After making the necessary alterations, permission to approach the players competing in the Manawatu club grade rugby competition was sought from the coaches at this leveL
CHAPTER 7 ME1HOD -PART I
Contact was made with coaches in one of two ways: (1) via letter; or (2) through attendance at an injury prevention seminar. After contact details had been obtained from the MRFU,
Senior I coaches were sent a letter outlining the objectives for Phase I of the research and inviting their participation (refer Appendix E). Alternatively, coaches from a variety of grades were approached during each of three ACC Injury Prevention Seminars run in conjunction with the MRFU. A brief outline of the study and justification for Phase I of
the research was presented to those in attendance, and contact details for those willing to participate were gathered at this point.
Coaches willing to take part in the research were phoned within 1 -3 weeks from the point at which the initial contact was made to arrange a time suitable for the administration of the RPQ. As training sessions were typically held twice a week on either Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday nights during the season, it was considered feasible to administer the RPQ either prior to the scheduled training session or at its completion. Questionnaires were administered to players either in the clubrooms, changing rooms, or on the training field itself.
Information sheets (refer Appendix F) were supplied to all those present, outlining the overall objectives of the study, with a copy of the RPQ, a clipboard and pen, provided only to those players willing to participate. Before filling out the RPQ, players were again briefly informed of the study's purpose and their attention was drawn to a number of aspects pertinent to the questionnaire. Firstly, respondents were informed that their consent was implied in the completion of the questionnaire. Secondly, the definition of head injury
adopted by the study was explained in order to ensure their understanding of the term. Respondents were also told that the questionnaire required only a tick, letter, or number to be placed in each box to indicate their response in accordance with the requirements of each question. Players were encouraged to ask questions regarding any aspect of the questionnaire, with clarification provided by the researcher. On completion of the
0iAPTER 7 ME1HOD -PART !
questionnaire respondents were asked to return clipboards and pens and hand the completed questionnaire to the researcher.