Development of Data Collection Instruments for Evaluation of Wrestling Injuries and Health Problems in Iran

Preventive program in sports medicine is part of a sequence. the first step of this sequence is evaluation of sports medicine problems in the athletic population. there are some published data about sports injuries and health problems of the us wrestlers; however there is no information about these problems in other countries. lack of data in this area may cause some limitations in the planning of local and international preventive programs. the main limitation to conduct this kind of research is availability of a valid and reliable questionnaire. the objectives of this study were to develop and to evaluate validity and reliability of questionnaires for assessment and monitoring of wrestling injuries and health problems in iran. two questionnaires were developed based on published literature and existing data collection instruments as well as interviews with some experts in iran. the questionnaires aim at providing information that could be beneficial to the planning of preventive measures. the first questionnaire designed to evaluate current and past health problems related to wrestling. the second questionnaire aimed at assessing sports injuries. these include rate of the injuries, characteristics, and severity of injuries, possible risk factors, and treatment and rehabilitation approaches. to evaluate the validity of the questionnaires, they were reviewed by a panel of experts in iran including some team physicians, coaches, and wrestlers. in the second phase, a pilot study was performed on 30 wrestlers in two clubs in tehran. the objectives of this pilot study were to assess the feasibility and acceptability of protocol and questionnaire and also to evaluate that the questions are understood by the subjects. the questionnaires were improved based on the result of the pilot study. in the next phase, a test-re-test was performed on 25 wrestlers in three clubs in tehran to measure the reliability of the second draft of questionnaire. the result showed that the questionnaires are valid and reliable and can be employed to evaluate sports injuries and health problems of wrestlers in iran.