High School Girls' Volleyball Athletes' Self-Reported Management of Pain, Intentions to Report Overuse Injuries, and Intentions to Adhere to Medical Advice for Treating Overuse Injuries.

CONTEXT: Girls' high school volleyball is a popular sport with a high rate of overuse injuries and sport specialization. Health professionals perceive that high school athletes are reluctant to follow treatment plans involving sport activity reduction. This study's purpose was to describe high school girls' volleyball athletes' self-reported shoulder and knee pain, the likelihood of adhering to medical advice, and the association of factors that influence the likelihood of reporting overuse injuries and sport specialization. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional. METHODS: Participants completed an online survey (demographics, sport participation measures, shoulder and knee pain information, medical adherence likelihood [4-point Likert: not at all likely to extremely likely], and factors influencing overuse injury reporting intentions). A 2 × 2 chi-square analysis compared factors that influence athletes' intentions to "not report an overuse injury" (eg, I thought my coach would get mad; yes/no) and sport specialization (nonhighly specialized/highly specialized athletes). RESULTS: There were 150 participants (highly specialized = 56%, grade: ninth = 33%, 10th = 28%, 11th = 22%, 12th = 17%). At least 60% reported shoulder and knee pain related to an overuse mechanism. Most reportedly did not seek rehabilitation led by a medical provider (shoulder pain = 66%, knee pain = 60%). Only 11% of athletes reported they were "extremely likely" to rest from sporting activity during the regular season if advised by a medical professional. Highly specialized athletes were more likely to report the pursuit of a college scholarship as a factor that influences their intention to report an overuse injury compared to nonhighly specialized athletes (13% vs 3%, respectively, P = .04). CONCLUSIONS: Most girls' volleyball athletes did not treat their pain with guided rehabilitation, which may increase their risk of a worse overuse injury or even acute injury. Clinicians, athletes, parents, and coaches need to work together to create a sport culture that empowers athletes to discuss their pain and overuse injuries with medical professionals.

Youth Sport Participation Experiences From the Perspective of Hispanic/Latinx Parents and Their Children.

Hispanic/Latinx communities remain an underserved population in terms of health and physical activity opportunities. The rise of sport specialization can jeopardize these opportunities. Understanding the appeal and welcomeness that minoritized populations feel toward sport and sport specialization culture can play an important role in health promotion and breaking down barriers that widen the gap on physical activity levels in Hispanic/Latinx communities. To date, these studies have not qualitatively investigated Hispanic/Latinx youth sport dyads (parent and child) and how sport specialization perceptions have affected their sport participation experiences. We used a qualitative interpretative phenomenological analysis to explore experiences of Hispanic/Latinx high school athletes. We engaged in semistructured interviews with 12 parent-child dyads. The following 3 interrelated themes emerged: (a) expectations of youth sport participation, (b) meeting expectations of youth sport participation, (c) and (mis)alignment of cultures. Dyads describe a negative youth sport experience when both cultures do not align because of the rise in sport specialization and pay-to-play culture. Findings indicate that dyads understand what is necessary to participate in organized sport and do this by methods that are rooted in their Hispanic/Latinx culture.

Impact of COVID-19 on the physical activity, quality of life and mental health of adolescent athletes: a 2-year evaluation of over 17 000 athletes.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the changes in mental health, quality of life (QOL) and physical activity (PA) among adolescent athletes during the COVID-19 pandemic as organised sports resumed. METHODS: Adolescent athletes completed surveys including demographic and sport participation information, 7-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder, 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire, Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory and the Hospital for Special Surgery Pediatric Functional Activity Brief Scale in May 2020 following COVID-19-related sport cancellations (Spring20) and after returning to sports in May 2021 (Spring21). The groups were balanced by inverse propensity score weighting and compared using analysis of variance models and ordinal regression models. RESULTS: 17 421 participants were included (Spring20=13 002; Spring21=4419; 16.2±1.2 years; 53% female). Anxiety was significantly lower (better) in Spring21 (Spring20=7.0, 95% CI 6.9 to 7.1; Spring21=4.9, 95% CI 4.8 to 5.0, p<0.001), as was the prevalence of moderate to severe anxiety (Spring20=29.4%, Spring21=17.1%, p<0.001). Depression was significantly improved in Spring21 (Spring20=7.6, 95% CI 7.5 to 7.7; Spring21=4.6, 95% CI 4.5 to 4.8, p<0.001), as was the prevalence of moderate to severe depression (Spring20=32.2%, Spring21=15.4%, p<0.001). Athletes in Spring21 reported higher QOL (Spring20=79.6, 95% CI 79.3 to 79.9; Spring21=84.7, 95% CI 84.4 to 85.0, p<0.001) and increased levels of PA (Spring20=13.8, 95% CI 13.6 to 13.9; Spring21=22.7, 95% CI 22.6 to 22.9, p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Early COVID-19 sports restrictions were associated with worsening mental health in adolescents. In 2021, after returning to sports, athletes reported significant improvements in mental health, QOL and PA, although mental health adversities remain an important priority.

The Association of Sport Specialization and Concussion History on Self-Reported Depressive Symptoms and Quality of Life Among High School Athletes.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the association of sport specialization combined with sport-related concussion (SRC) history on depression and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in a population of high school athletes. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: High schools. PARTICIPANTS: Two thousand four hundred fifty-three athletes through the State of Wisconsin. INDEPENDENT VARIABLES: Sport specialization and SRC history. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Athletes completed questionnaires reporting their SRC history, sports participation (single-sport or multisport), Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), and Pediatric Quality of Life 4.0 (PedsQL). We used multivariate binary logistic regression to assess the odds ratio (OR) for depressive symptoms based on SRC and sport participation history. Separate multilinear regression evaluated the association between the PedsQL, SRC, and sport participation history. The interaction of sport specialization and SRC history was explored in both regression models. RESULTS: High school athletes who participated in single-sport activities had a greater odds of reporting higher severity of depressive symptoms on PHQ-9 scores (OR, 1.50; 95% CI, 1.11-2.02) and reduced PedsQL ( P < 0.001) compared with their multisport counterparts. There were no associations between SRC history and either PHQ-9 or PedsQL scores. Statistically significant interactions between sport specialization and SRC were not found among all models. CONCLUSION: Single-sport high school athletes reported a reduction in HRQoL measures along with higher depressive symptoms when compared with the multisport athletes. The SRC history did not have a lingering effect on depression or HRQoL in this study. These findings raise some interesting concerns regarding the quality of mental health in adolescent athletes solely focused on single-sport endeavors.

Secondary School Athletic Trainers' Strategies and Barriers to Overuse Injury Treatment in Adolescent Athletes.

CONTEXT: Studies have illustrated that overuse injuries occur in adolescent athletes more often than previously reported. The general purpose of this study was to provide a thorough report of secondary school athletic trainers encounters, practices, and perceptions of overuse injury in adolescent athletes. DESIGN: Cross-sectional. METHODS: An anonymous online questionnaire was distributed via email to athletic trainers in the secondary school setting. The questionnaire was sent to participants during the summer of 2021 and 430 participants (highest educational degree earned: master's degree = 66%) completed the survey. Various survey methods were used to evaluate athletic trainers (1) demographics, (2) estimations about what percentage of injuries evaluated and treated were classified as overuse, (3) methods for treating overuse injuries, (4) confidence in treating overuse injuries and the complete implementation of their treatment plan, (5) perceptions of various barriers to treating overuse injuries, and (6) perception as to why patients did not want to reduce activity to treat their overuse injuries. RESULTS: Participants reported that about half of all evaluations and treatments in a year were overuse injuries and they were "fairly" or "completely" confident (90%) in their ability to treat these injuries. The most common treatments cited were stretching (91%) and reducing activity (90%). Only 61% of participants were "fairly" or "completely" confident in the complete implementation of their treatment plan. Participants believed that patients' reluctance to reduce sport activities (82% "moderate" or "extreme" barrier) was the most significant barrier to treatment. Participants cited athletes' avoidance of missing games as the most common reason athletes were reluctant to reduce sporting activity. CONCLUSIONS: Participants felt confident in treating overuse injuries yet faced significant barriers in treating these injuries. Clinicians should be prepared to have conversations about the importance of reducing sporting activity to allow proper healing for overuse injuries in adolescent athletes.

Reach and Adoption of a Geriatric Emergency Department Accreditation Program in the United States.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: The objectives of this study were to describe the reach and adoption of Geriatric Emergency Department Accreditation (GEDA) program and care processes instituted at accredited geriatric emergency departments (EDs). METHODS: We analyzed a cross-section of a cohort of US EDs that received GEDA from May 2018 to March 2021. We obtained data from the American College of Emergency Physicians and publicly available sources. Data included GEDA level, geographic location, urban/rural designation, and care processes instituted. Frequencies and proportions and median and interquartile ranges were used to summarize categorical and continuous data, respectively. RESULTS: Over the study period, 225 US geriatric ED accreditations were issued and included in our analysis-14 Level 1, 21 Level 2, and 190 Level 3 geriatric EDs; 5 geriatric EDs reapplied and received higher-level accreditation after initial accreditation at a lower level. Only 9 geriatric EDs were in rural regions. There was significant heterogeneity in protocols enacted at geriatric EDs; minimizing urinary catheter use and fall prevention were the most common. CONCLUSION: There has been rapid growth in geriatric EDs, driven by Level 3 accreditation. Most geriatric EDs are in urban areas, indicating the potential need for expansion beyond these areas. Future research evaluating the impact of GEDA on health care utilization and patient-oriented outcomes is needed.

Reported COVID-19 Incidence in Indoor Winter Sports Among US High-School Athletes.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association between COVID-19 incidence among high-school athletes participating in different indoor winter sports and attending schools with in-person versus virtual instructional delivery. DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey. SETTING: US high schools. PARTICIPANTS: High-school athletic directors. INDEPENDENT VARIABLES: Indoor winter sports, school instructional delivery method, and state COVID-19 incidence. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Surveys were distributed to high-school athletic directors throughout the United States regarding sport reinitiation and COVID-19 cases in winter 2020 to 2021. Separate mixed effects Poisson regression models were developed to evaluate the associations between reported COVID-19 incidence and (1) different sports and (2) school instructional delivery method, while adjusting for the background, state COVID-19 incidence. RESULTS: Four hundred thirty schools had restarted fall sports, representing 31 274 athletes on 1404 teams from 14 states. One thousand four hundred sixty cases of COVID-19 were reported, representing a case rate of 4668 cases per 100 000 athletes and an incidence rate of 58.7 cases per 100 000 player-days. Reported COVID-19 incidence was greatest among girls' hockey (82.1 cases per 100 000 player-days (95% CI, 56.8-115) and boys' hockey [76.7 (61.8-94.2)] and lowest among swimming [39.0 (31.1-48.2)] and gymnastics [28.5 (13.1-54.2)]. No difference in reported COVID-19 incidence was identified among athletes attending schools with virtual versus in-person instruction [incidence rate ratio = 0.86 (0.52-1.4)]. CONCLUSIONS: In this nationwide survey of US high-school athletic directors regarding indoor winter sports, reported COVID-19 incidence was lower in noncontact sports but unrelated to school instructional delivery method. This information may help guide decision-making regarding high-school sport participation during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Impact of in-season injury on quality of life and sleep duration in female youth volleyball athletes: a prospective study of 2073 players.

OBJECTIVES: The psychological impacts of injuries in youth athletes remain poorly defined. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of injury on quality of life (QOL) and sleep in female high school volleyball athletes. METHODS: 2073 female high school volleyball players (15.6±1.1 years) completed the Pediatric Quality of Life survey (total QOL, physical, social, school, emotional and psychosocial function) and reported average sleep duration at the start and end of the season. Injury data were collected by school athletic trainers. Mixed effects linear regression models were used to compare changes in QOL and sleep duration during the season between (1) injured and uninjured athletes and (2) injured athletes who did or did not suffer a season-ending injury. RESULTS: Time-loss injuries were reported in 187 athletes with complete preseason and postseason data. During the season, injured athletes demonstrated a greater decrease in total QOL (ß=-1.3±0.5, p=0.012), as well as physical function (ß=-1.6±0.6, p=0.012), school function (ß=-2.0±0.76, p=0.01) and psychosocial function domains (ß=-1.2±0.6, p=0.039) compared with uninjured athletes. Athletes who sustained a season-ending injury had a significantly greater decrease in total QOL (ß=-6.8±2.0, p=0.006) and physical function (ß=-17±2.9, p<0.001) compared with injured athletes who were able to return to play during the season. CONCLUSION: In-season injuries are associated with significant decreases in total QOL as well as physical and psychosocial function. Healthcare providers should consider the impacts of injuries on QOL and sleep in youth athletes in order to optimise management and improve overall health.

Concepts in Practice: Geriatric Emergency Departments.

In 2018, the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) began accrediting facilities as "geriatric emergency departments" (EDs) according to adherence to the multiorganizational guidelines published in 2014. The guidelines were developed to help every ED improve its care of older adults. The geriatric ED guideline recommendations span the care continuum from out-of-hospital care, ED staffing, protocols, infrastructure, and transitions to outpatient care. Hospitals interested in making their EDs more geriatric friendly thus face the challenge of adopting, adapting, and implementing extensive guideline recommendations in a cost-effective manner and within the capabilities of their facilities and staff. Because all innovation is at heart local and must function within the constraints of local resources, different hospital systems have developed implementation processes for the geriatric ED guidelines according to their differing institutional capabilities and resources. This article describes 4 geriatric ED models of care to provide practical examples and guidance for institutions considering developing geriatric EDs: a geriatric ED-specific unit, geriatrics practitioner models, geriatric champions, and geriatric-focused observation units. The advantages and limitations of each model are compared and examples of specific institutions and their operational metrics are provided.

Different Perceptions of Parents and Children on Factors Influencing Sport Specialization.

CONTEXT: Sport specialization among youth athletes has been associated with increased risk of overuse injuries. Previous research demonstrates that children perceive specialization to be beneficial in making their high school team and receiving athletic college scholarships. Previous research demonstrates that parents play a significant role in their child's sport experience. However, it is unknown if parents and children answer questions related to specialization factors in a similar manner. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the beliefs of youth athletes and parents on factors related to sport specialization and evaluate the level of agreement between dyads on sports specialization. DESIGN: Cross-sectional. SETTING: Online and paper surveys. PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS: Aim 1: 1998 participants (993 children and 1005 parents). Aim 2: 77 paired parent-child dyads. INTERVENTIONS: Self-administered survey. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The responses were summarized via frequency and proportions (%). Chi-squares were calculated between parent and child responses. Kappa coefficients were calculated for dyads to determine level of agreement. Sport specialization was classified using a common 3-point scale. RESULTS: The parents were more concerned about risk of injury in sports compared with children (P < .001, χ2 = 231.4; parent: extremely: 7.1%; child: extremely: 3.7%). However, children were more likely to believe that specialization was associated with their chances of obtaining an athletic college scholarship compared with parents (P < .001, χ2 = 201.6; parent: very/extremely likely: 13.7%; child: very/extremely likely: 15.8%). Dyad subanalysis indicated a moderate level of agreement for "quitting other sports to focus on one sport" (κ = .50) and a low level of agreement for "identifying a primary sport" (κ = .30) and "training >8 months per year in primary sport" (κ = .32). CONCLUSIONS: Parents and youth athletes had differing beliefs on the factors related to sport specialization. Dyad analysis shows that parents and children answer sport specialization classification questions differently. Health care providers should be aware of these differences, and messaging should be individualized to the audience.

Predictors of 30-Day Return Following an Emergency Department Visit for Older Adults.

BACKGROUND Older adults who are discharged following emergency department evaluation are at increased risk for functional decline and health care utilization, and are likely to benefit from close follow-up and additional care services. Understanding factors associated with a return emergency department visit within 30 days among older fee-for-service Medicare beneficiaries discharged to the community may assist in identifying patients at greatest need for interventions.METHOD Predictors from Medicare data and public sources were evaluated in a retrospective data analysis of North and South Carolina residents (2011-2012) aged ≥ 65 years using Cox regression proportion hazards ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for time-to-30-day return events.RESULTS 30-day return rates varied markedly among the 167 emergency department facilities studied (18%-39%). Predictors of 30-day return included: age (85+ versus 65-74; HR, 1.24; 95% CI, 1.22-1.27); male sex (HR, 1.11; 95% CI, 1.14-1.10); non-white race (HR, 1.07; 95% CI, 1.05-1.09); Medicaid eligibility (HR, 1.20; 95% CI, 1.18-1.22); Charlson Score (3+ vs. 0; HR, 1.33; 95% CI, 1.30-1.36); and prior emergency department encounter (3+ vs. 0; HR, 2.35; 95% CI 2.30-2.41).LIMITATIONS This study was limited to Medicare beneficiaries in North Carolina and South Carolina, 2011-2012. Administrative claims data are limited to information required for financial reimbursement. Because we limited our study to older fee-for-service patients, our findings may not be generalizable to managed care patients and other age groups. Patients transferred to another emergency department or facility were not included in the analysis.CONCLUSION Factors predicting 30-day return to the emergency department or hospitalization suggest the potential for care transition improvement efforts to better meet patient needs, thereby potentially improving post-emergency department outcomes.

Secondary School Athletic Trainers' Perceptions of How Youth Sport Specialization Impacts Workload.

BACKGROUND: Youth sport specialization is a growing trend in youth sports and is associated with an increased risk of injuries and burnout. However, it is unknown how sport specialization is perceived to be affecting the working environment of secondary school athletic trainers (ATs). The purpose of this paper is to describe how ATs perceive youth sport specialization impacting their workload and whether they perceive it to impact patient safety. HYPOTHESIS: ATs will perceive that youth sport specialization impacts their workload and could impact patient safety. STUDY DESIGN: A sequential, explanatory mixed methods design with 2 phases: (1) cross-sectional surveys and (2) individual interviews. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level 3. METHODS: A total of 487 secondary school ATs completed the online survey (access rate, 8.4%; completion rate, 85.4%). The survey consisted of Likert questions and included sections about aspects of workload impacted by specialization, impacts on patient safety, demographics. Ten participants were selected to complete a semi-structured interview via video conference. RESULTS: Approximately two-thirds of ATs perceive that sport specialization impacts their workload. (Somewhat, 38.6%; Quite a bit, 25.5%; A great deal, 5.5%) Attempts to reduce or modify patient activity and a patient's time for rehabilitation were the highest rated aspects of workload impacted by sport specialization. Approximately 30% ATs (29.9%) perceive that sport specialization impacts their workload to where it may influence patient safety (Somewhat, 21.6%; Quite a bit, 6.4%; A great deal, 1.9%). Three themes and subsequent subthemes were identified from the qualitative interviews: (1) current youth sport expectations, (2) conflict between school and club sports, and (3) AT job impacts. CONCLUSION: Secondary school ATs perceive their workload to be negatively impacted by youth sport specialization and some believe it may impact patient safety. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Youth sport specialization is impacting youth sport stakeholders, including ATs, in a variety of ways.

The Influence of Race, Socioeconomic Status, and Physical Activity on the Mental Health Benefits of Sport Participation During COVID-19.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to compare the benefits of sport participation with no sport participation during the COVID-19 pandemic and determine the moderating effects of race and ethnicity, socioeconomic status (SES), and physical activity (PA) on mental health in adolescent athletes. HYPOTHESIS: Sport participation would be associated with greater improvements in mental health for athletes from racial and ethnic minority and lower SES groups compared with White and high SES groups. PA would mediate <30% of the mental health benefits of sport participation. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level 4. METHODS: In May 2021, adolescent athletes completed an online survey (demographics, sport participation, measures of anxiety and depression, PA). Participants were classified as those who played sports (PLY) and those who did not (DNP). Mental health symptoms for the PLY and DNP groups were compared via analysis of variance models that controlled for demographic variables. Moderating analyses assessed the interaction of sport participation status by (1) race and ethnicity (White/non-White) and (2) SES (high/low) with mental health. Mediation analyses assessed the degree that PA scores explained the differences in anxiety and depression between the 2 groups. RESULTS: Participants included 4874 adolescent athletes (52% female; age, 16.1 ± 1.3 years; PLY, 91%). Athletes who returned to sport from racial minority groups and low SES had greater decreases in anxiety (race and ethnicity: interaction estimate (b) = -1.18 ± 0.6, P = 0.04; SES, b = -1.23 ± 0.5, P = 0.02), and depression (race and ethnicity: b = -1.19 ± 0.6, P = 0.05; SES, b = -1.21 ± 0.6, P = 0.03) compared with White and high SES athletes, respectively. PA explained 24% of anxiety (P < 0.01) and 20% of depression scores (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Athletes who identify as a racial or ethnic minority and from areas of lower household income experienced disproportionately greater negative mental health impacts from sport restrictions during COVID-19. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Improving access to sports in traditionally underserved areas may have significant mental health impact for adolescents.

Sport Specialization and Sport Motivation in Middle School-Aged Athletes.

CONTEXT: Sport specialization has been assumed to have psychosocial ramifications for athletes, especially autonomous motivation, which has been associated with continued sport participation. Sport dropout is common in youth athletes, yet it is unknown how sport specialization may affect this population psychosocially. OBJECTIVE: To determine the association of sport specialization with autonomous and controlled motivation and amotivation in middle school-aged athletes. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: An anonymous online questionnaire was distributed to athletes via schools, club sports, and social media. PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS: A total of 178 athletes (male = 59%; private school = 51%; grade: sixth = 20%, seventh = 32%, eighth = 48%) completed the questionnaire. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): The questionnaire assessed demographics, sport participation, and motivation using the Youth Behavioral Regulation in Sport Questionnaire. Sport specialization was defined using a modified 3-point scale (low, moderate, or high) and multisport versus single-sport athletes. Nonparametric tests were used to analyze the differences among the types of motivation and specialization levels and between multisport and single-sport athletes. RESULTS: Sport specialization categories were not significantly associated with autonomous motivation, controlled motivation, or amotivation. No significant associations were present between multisport or single-sport athletes and any type of motivation. However, multisport athletes had higher scores for intrinsic motivation, a subscale of autonomous motivation, compared with single-sport athletes (single sport: median = 5.00, 25th-75th quartile = 4.50-5.00; multisport: median = 5.00, 25th-75th quartile = 5.00-5.00; P = .04). CONCLUSIONS: Sport motivation did not differ between sport specialization groups in middle school athletes. Dropout from sport is common in this age group but is multifactorial in nature. A lack of sport motivation could be a factor for some athletes, but all specialization groups appeared to have similar outcomes. Our exploratory analysis suggests that clinicians may consider having an open dialogue with single-sport athletes, their parents or guardians, and coaches to ensure that athletes are enjoying their sport.

Emergency Department-to-Community Transitions of Care: Best Practices for the Older Adult Population.

This article describes emergency department (ED)-to-community care transitions for older adults and associated challenges, measurement, proven efficacious and effective interventions, and policy considerations. Older adults experiencing social isolation and impairments in functional status or cognition represent unique populations that are particularly at risk during ED-to-community transitions of care and may benefit from targeted intervention implementation. Future efforts should target optimizing screening techniques to identify those at risk, developing and validating patient-centered outcome measures, and using policy and reimbursement levers to include transitional care management services for older adults within the ED setting.

COVID-19 Planning in United States Adolescent Sports: A Survey of 1880 Organizations Representing More Than 500 000 Youth Athletes.

CONTEXT: High schools and youth sport organizations that restarted participation in the fall of 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic relied on information sources to develop risk-mitigation procedures. OBJECTIVE: To compare the risk-mitigation procedures and information sources used by high school athletic departments and youth sport organizations. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Surveys of high school and youth sport organization programs from across the United States. PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS: A total of 1296 high schools and 584 youth sport organizations, representing 519 241 adolescent athletes, responded to the surveys. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Surveys regarding restarting sport, COVID-19 cases, risk-reduction procedures, and the information sources used to develop risk-reduction plans in the fall of 2020 were distributed to high school athletic directors and youth sport directors throughout the United States. The proportions of high schools and youth sport organizations using different risk-reduction procedures and information sources were compared using the χ2 test. RESULTS: High schools used more risk-reduction procedures than did youth sport organizations (high schools = 7.1 ± 2.1 versus youth sport organizations = 6.3 ± 2.4; P < .001) and were more likely than youth sport organizations to use symptom monitoring (high schools = 93% versus youth sport organizations = 85%, χ2 = 26.3; P < .001), temperature checks on site (66% versus 49%, χ2 = 53.4; P < .001), face masks for athletes during play (37% versus 23%, χ2 = 38.1; P < .001) and when off the field (81% versus 71%, χ2 = 26.1; P < .001), social distancing for staff (81% versus 68%, χ2 = 43.3; P < .001) and athletes off the field (83% versus 68%, χ2 = 57.6; P < .001), and increased facility disinfection (92% versus 70%, χ2 = 165.0; P < .001). Youth sport organizations relied more on information from sport national governing bodies than did high schools (youth sport organizations = 52% versus high schools = 10%, χ2 = 411.0; P < .001), whereas high schools were more likely to use information from sources such as the National Athletic Trainers' Association (high schools = 20% versus youth sport organizations = 6%, χ2 = 55.20; P < .001) and the National Federation of State High School Associations (high schools = 72% versus youth sport organizations = 15%, χ2 = 553.00; P < .001) for determining risk-reduction strategies. CONCLUSIONS: High schools and youth sport organizations reported using a broad range of risk-reduction procedures, but the average number was higher among high schools than youth sport organizations. Use of information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and local health authorities was high overall, but use of information from professional health care organizations was low. Professional health care organizations should consider using additional measures to improve information uptake among stakeholders in youth sports.

Does Increased Physical Activity Explain the Psychosocial Benefits of Sport Participation During COVID-19?

CONTEXT: Although the return to sports during COVID-19 has been associated with improvements in mental health and quality of life (QOL), whether these benefits are primarily due to increases in physical activity (PA) is unknown. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether PA increases were responsible for the improvements in mental health and QOL among adolescents who returned to sport during the COVID-19 pandemic. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Wisconsin secondary schools. PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS: A total of 559 adolescent athletes (age = 15.7 + 1.2 years, females = 43.6%) from 44 schools completed a survey in October 2020. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Demographic information, whether they had returned to sport participation, school instruction type, anxiety (Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7), depression (Patient Health Questionnaire-9), QOL (Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory 4.0), and PA (Hospital for Special Surgery Pediatric Functional Activity Brief Scale). Mediation analysis was used to assess whether the relationships between sport status and anxiety, depression, and QOL were mediated by PA. RESULTS: At the time of the study, 171 (31%) had returned to play and 388 (69%) had not. Athletes who had returned to play had less anxiety (3.6 ± 0.4 versus 8.2 ± 0.6, P < .001) and depression (4.2 ± 0.4 versus 7.3 ± 0.6, P < .001) and higher QOL (88.1 ± 1.0 versus 80.2 ± 1.4, P < .001) and more PA (24.0 ± 0.5 versus 16.3 ± 0.7, P < .001). Physical activity explained a significant, but small, proportion of the difference in depression (22.1%, P = .02) and QOL (16.0%, P = .048) but not anxiety (6.6%, P = .20) between athletes who had and those who had not returned to play. CONCLUSIONS: Increased PA was responsible for only a small portion of the improvements in depression and QOL among athletes who returned to sports. This suggests that most of the mental health benefits of sport participation for adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic were independent of the benefits of increased PA.

Development of telehealth principles and guidelines for older adults: A modified Delphi approach.

The COVID-19 pandemic elevated telehealth as a prevalent care delivery modality for older adults. However, guidelines and best practices for the provision of healthcare via telehealth are lacking. Principles and guidelines are needed to ensure that telehealth is safe, effective, and equitable for older adults. The Collaborative for Telehealth and Aging (C4TA) composed of providers, experts in geriatrics, telehealth, and advocacy, developed principles and guidelines for delivering telehealth to older adults. Using a modified Delphi process, C4TA members identified three principles and 18 guidelines. First, care should be person-centered; telehealth programs should be designed to meet the needs and preferences of older adults by considering their goals, family and caregivers, linguistic characteristics, and readiness and ability to use technology. Second, care should be equitable and accessible; telehealth programs should address individual and systemic barriers to care for older adults by considering issues of equity and access. Third, care should be integrated and coordinated across systems and people; telehealth should limit fragmentation, improve data sharing, increase communication across stakeholders, and address both workforce and financial sustainability. C4TA members have diverse perspectives and expertise but a shared commitment to improving older adults' lives. C4TA's recommendations highlight older adults' needs and create a roadmap for providers and health systems to take actionable steps to reach them. The next steps include developing implementation strategies, documenting current telehealth practices with older adults, and creating a community to support the dissemination, implementation, and evaluation of the recommendations.