• July 1, 2026 | 12:45 PM - 2:45 PM
• PCC,122AB

Beyond Compliance: Using Implementation Science to Strengthen School-Based Concussion Programs

Despite well-established concussion laws and guidelines, many athletic trainers in secondary schools struggle to understand how to implement and continuously improve concussion programs within the diverse and resource-limited contexts of school settings. This issue arises from a limited ability to apply evidence-based implementation frameworks. The Virginia Concussion Initiative (VCI) aims to address this problem by providing practical approaches and resources, including customizable tools such as the Concussion Policy Assessment Tool (CPAT) and a continuous improvement model (PDSI), which are based on established frameworks like PRISM and RE-AIM. This learning lab focuses on closing the critical implementation gap by familiarizing athletic trainers in the principles of implementation science. This training will enable them to systematically evaluate and strengthen their concussion management programs. Closing this gap is essential to ensure that concussion policies translate into effective, equitable, and sustainable practices for student-athletes across various school environments.

Learning Objectives - Describe core principles of implementation science, including the PRISM and RE-AIM frameworks.
- Explain how implementation science supports the design, evaluation, and sustainability of school-based concussion programs.
- Interpret the components of the PRISM model in the context of secondary school settings.
- Analyze how the Virginia Concussion Initiative’s PDSI model and Concussion Policy Assessment Tool (CPAT) align with PRISM and RE-AIM.
- Evaluate how implementation science principles can be used to adapt concussion programs to diverse, resource-variable school environments.

Lab Objectives
- Apply the VCI Concussion Policy Assessment Tool (CPAT) to identify gaps in a sample school policy.

Keywords: Contextual adaptation; School health ; Program sustainability