Cultural Competence in Athletic Training Education Programs: A Critically Appraised Topic

Author(s):  
Megan N. Sears ◽  
Dani M. Moffit ◽  
Rebecca M. Lopez

Clinical Question: Do cultural-competence-based educational interventions improve the cultural competence of athletic training students, based on the constructs of the Campinha-Bacote model? Clinical Bottom Line: Athletic training programs can improve athletic training students’ cultural awareness, knowledge, skill, encounters, and desire by incorporating cultural-competence-based independent readings, lecture presentations, in-class discussions, and self-awareness activities.

2018 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 67-73 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sayuri Abe-Hiraishi ◽  
Nicholas E. Grahovec ◽  
Denis Anson ◽  
Leamor Kahanov

Context:Traditional athletic training programs (ATPs) typically use a cohort model, which may create difficulty in integrating a study away/abroad program or international experiences into the model.Objective:To propose a model of study away/abroad and international opportunities embedded within the current athletic training curriculum.Background:Cultural competence (CC) became a component of the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education 5 years ago in the fifth edition competencies. The Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education-accredited ATPs, however, struggle to teach this concept effectively to students. The implementation of study away/abroad models in the athletic training curriculum may maximize students' exposure to other cultures.Synthesis:A review of the current study away/abroad programs and international opportunities, as well as educational values of short-term study away/abroad programs in athletic training education.Results:Study away/abroad/international experiences may provide opportunities for athletic training students to increase cultural awareness.Recommendations:Professional ATPs should consider integrating study away/abroad and international experiences into the athletic training curriculum and offer both didactic and clinical experiences internationally.Conclusions:The curricular integration of study away/abroad and international experiences provides athletic training students the opportunity to increase cultural competence with a programmatic and efficient approach.


2013 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 66-70 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer L. Volberding

Context As the patient population continues to diversify, it is essential that athletic training students (ATSs) are educated to provide culturally competent care. This high-quality health care within the context of a patient's race, ethnicity, language, religious beliefs, or behaviors is a foundation of professional practice. Objective Determine undergraduate ATSs' levels of cultural competence and their variability by gender, race, and year in school. Design Cross-sectional design. Setting Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education–accredited undergraduate athletic training programs. Patients or Other Participants ATSs enrolled in their programs' professional-education phase (N = 421), of which 366 were Caucasian and 55 were students of color. Intervention Students completed a 20-question online Likert survey using Qualtrics. Items were based on prior research and a nursing measurement tool, rated on a 1 to 4 scale (from strongly disagree to strongly agree, respectively; maximum score of 80), and found to be reliable (Cronbach α = 0.721). Main Outcome Measurements Overall cultural competence score, means, and standard deviations were calculated for all students by gender, race/ethnicity, and year. One-way analyses of variance also compared each category. Results Higher scores on the research tool demonstrate higher levels of cultural competence. There were no significant differences found between gender and year in school. Students of color showed higher overall cultural competence scores than Caucasians (F1,420 = 29.509, P < .01). The mean overall cultural competence score was 58.36 ± 5.26. Conclusions Students of color demonstrated higher levels of cultural competence, which is possibly because of their personal history and experiences. The current study demonstrates that athletic training programs must seek to better educate students on providing culturally competent care.


2008 ◽  
Vol 43 (4) ◽  
pp. 386-395 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stacy E. Walker ◽  
Thomas G. Weidner ◽  
Kirk J. Armstrong

Abstract Context: Appropriate methods for evaluating clinical proficiencies are essential in ensuring entry-level competence. Objective: To investigate the common methods athletic training education programs use to evaluate student performance of clinical proficiencies. Design: Cross-sectional design. Setting: Public and private institutions nationwide. Patients or Other Participants: All program directors of athletic training education programs accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs as of January 2006 (n  =  337); 201 (59.6%) program directors responded. Data Collection and Analysis: The institutional survey consisted of 11 items regarding institutional and program demographics. The 14-item Methods of Clinical Proficiency Evaluation in Athletic Training survey consisted of respondents' demographic characteristics and Likert-scale items regarding clinical proficiency evaluation methods and barriers, educational content areas, and clinical experience settings. We used analyses of variance and independent t tests to assess differences among athletic training education program characteristics and the barriers, methods, content areas, and settings regarding clinical proficiency evaluation. Results: Of the 3 methods investigated, simulations (n  =  191, 95.0%) were the most prevalent method of clinical proficiency evaluation. An independent-samples t test revealed that more opportunities existed for real-time evaluations in the college or high school athletic training room (t189  =  2.866, P  =  .037) than in other settings. Orthopaedic clinical examination and diagnosis (4.37 ± 0.826) and therapeutic modalities (4.36 ± 0.738) content areas were scored the highest in sufficient opportunities for real-time clinical proficiency evaluations. An inadequate volume of injuries or conditions (3.99 ± 1.033) and injury/condition occurrence not coinciding with the clinical proficiency assessment timetable (4.06 ± 0.995) were barriers to real-time evaluation. One-way analyses of variance revealed no difference between athletic training education program characteristics and the opportunities for and barriers to real-time evaluations among the various clinical experience settings. Conclusions: No one primary barrier hindered real-time clinical proficiency evaluation. To determine athletic training students' clinical proficiency for entry-level employment, athletic training education programs must incorporate standardized patients or take a disciplined approach to using simulation for instruction and evaluation.


2009 ◽  
Vol 44 (2) ◽  
pp. 197-207 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas M. Dodge ◽  
Murray F. Mitchell ◽  
James M. Mensch

Abstract Context: The success of any academic program, including athletic training, depends upon attracting and keeping quality students. The nature of persistent students versus students who prematurely leave the athletic training major is not known. Understanding the profiles of athletic training students who persist or leave is important. Objective: To (1) explore the relationships among the following variables: anticipatory factors, academic integration, clinical integration, social integration, and motivation; (2) determine which of the aforementioned variables discriminate between senior athletic training students and major changers; and (3) identify which variable is the strongest predictor of persistence in athletic training education programs. Design: Descriptive study using a qualitative and quantitative mixed-methods approach. Setting: Thirteen athletic training education programs located in District 3 of the National Athletic Trainers' Association. Patients or Other Participants: Ninety-four senior-level athletic training students and 31 college students who changed majors from athletic training to another degree option. Data Collection: Data were collected with the Athletic Training Education Program Student Retention Questionnaire (ATEPSRQ). Analysis: Data from the ATEPSRQ were analyzed via Pearson correlations, multivariate analysis of variance, univariate analysis of variance, and a stepwise discriminant analysis. Open-ended questions were transcribed and analyzed using open, axial, and selective coding procedures. Member checks and peer debriefing techniques ensured trustworthiness of the study. Results: Pearson correlations identified moderate relationships among motivation and clinical integration (r  =  0.515, P < .01) and motivation and academic integration (r  =  0.509, P < .01). Univariate analyses of variance showed that academic integration (F1,122  =  8.483, P < .004), clinical integration (F1,119  =  30.214, P < .001), and motivation (F1,121  =  68.887, P < .001) discriminated between seniors and major changers. Discriminant analysis indicated that motivation was the strongest predictor of persistence in athletic training education, accounting for 37.2% of the variance between groups. The theoretic model accurately classified 95.7% of the seniors and 53.8% of the major changers. A common theme emerging from the qualitative data was the presence of a strong peer-support group that surrounded many of the senior-level students. Conclusions: Understanding student retention in athletic training is important for our profession. Results from this study suggest 3 key factors associated with student persistence in athletic training education programs: (1) student motivation, (2) clinical and academic integration, and (3) the presence of a peer-support system. Educators and program directors must create comprehensive recruitment and retention strategies that address factors influencing students' decisions to stay in the athletic training profession.


2018 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 168-174 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bryan Crutcher ◽  
Ryan N. Moran ◽  
Tracey Covassin

Context: Although social support has been reported to be a factor that increases retention of athletic trainers in their profession, there is a lack of literature examining the specific relationship of social support satisfaction and its predictive influence on stress and depression among athletic training students. Objective: To determine which sources of social support were perceived to be the most salient and ascertain whether social support satisfaction can predict stress and depression among athletic training students. Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Nine Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education–accredited professional athletic training programs. Patients or Other Participants: A total of 204 athletic training students from Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education–accredited athletic training programs were included in this study. Main Outcome Measure(s): Participants completed the Perceived Stress Scale, Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, and the Social Support Questionnaire. Results: Social Support Satisfaction significantly predicted overall perceived stress (P = .010) and depression (P < .001). Satisfaction of support from family (P = .043) and other athletic trainers (P = .011) were significant predictors of perceived stress, whereas satisfaction of support from family (P = .003), other athletic trainers (P = .002), and athletes (P = .038) significantly predicted depression. Conclusions: The current study suggests that having an increased satisfaction of social support may reduce stress perceptions and depression in athletic training students.


2007 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 31-41 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alison R. Snyder ◽  
Tamara C. Valovich McLeod ◽  
Eric L. Sauers

Objective: To provide a basic introduction for athletic training educators about the importance of clinical outcomes measures and to recommend strategies for implementing clinical outcomes assessment education in professional and post-professional athletic training education programs. Background: Outcomes is a frequently used term amongst healthcare professionals; in the contexts of both education and clinical practice. Clinical outcomes assessment refers to the end result of healthcare services taking into account the patient's experiences and expectations. Clinical outcomes assessment education and implementation are critical to the successful implementation of evidence-based practice in athletic training. Description: Clinical outcomes assessments are categorized as either clinician- or patient-based measures. Clinician-based measures are often referred to as objective measures and include things such as range of motion (ROM) and strength, whereas patient-based measures are obtained via questionnaires and interviews that address the patient's perspective on his/her health status. Athletic training education programs should incorporate instruction on the use of both types of measures into their curricula. Clinical Advantages: Educating athletic training students to use clinical outcomes assessment will enable students to practice patient-centered care and provide them with an understanding of how to critically evaluate the evidence to determine optimal patient care. In addition, efforts to educate athletic training students about clinical outcomes assessment may support more widespread implementation of outcomes data collection and strengthen collaborations between clinicians and researchers to determine the effectiveness of athletic training clinical practice.


2014 ◽  
Vol 49 (1) ◽  
pp. 68-74 ◽  
Author(s):  
Scott Heinerichs ◽  
Neil Curtis ◽  
Alison Gardiner-Shires

Context: Athletic training students (ATSs) are involved in various situations during the clinical experience that may cause them to express levels of frustration. Understanding levels of frustration in ATSs is important because frustration can affect student learning, and the clinical experience is critical to their development as professionals. Objective:  To explore perceived levels of frustration in ATSs during clinical situations and to determine if those perceptions differ based on sex. Design:  Cross-sectional study with a survey instrument. Setting:  A total of 14 of 19 professional, undergraduate athletic training programs accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education in Pennsylvania. Patients or Other Participants:  Of a possible 438 athletic training students, 318 (72.6%) completed the survey. Main Outcomes Measure(s):  The Athletic Training Student Frustration Inventory was developed and administered. The survey gathered demographic information and included 24 Likert-scale items centering on situations associated with the clinical experience. Descriptive statistics were computed on all items. The Mann-Whitney U was used to evaluate differences between male and female students. Results:  A higher level of frustration was perceived during the following clinical situations: lack of respect by student-athletes and coaching staffs, the demands of the clinical experience, inability of ATSs to perform or remember skills, and ATSs not having the opportunity to apply their skills daily. Higher levels of frustration were perceived in female than male ATSs in several areas. Conclusions:  Understanding student frustration during clinical situations is important to better appreciate the clinical education experience. Low levels of this emotion are expected; however, when higher levels exist, learning can be affected. Whereas we cannot eliminate student frustrations, athletic training programs and preceptors need to be aware of this emotion in order to create an environment that is more conducive to learning.


2008 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 50-56
Author(s):  
Jeffrey K. Kawaguchi ◽  
Garth Babcock ◽  
Andrew Little

Context: According to the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE) Standards for the Accreditation of Entry-Level Athletic Training Education Programs, athletic training students (ATSs) must complete clinical experiences that provide opportunities to integrate cognitive function, psychomotor skills, and affective competence as a part of their coursework. 1 These experiences expose students to the physical demands of the profession, and it is these activities that differentiate the demands of athletic training from other academic majors. Objectives: To assess the self-reported perceptions of ATSs regarding the physical demands of their chosen major and their participation in sport and non-sport leisure activities. Design: Descriptive research design. Setting: Nine undergraduate Athletic Training Education Programs within the National Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA) District 10. Subjects: 112 undergraduate athletic training students enrolled in Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) accredited programs during the 2005–2006 academic year. Main outcome measures: Respondents completed a modified form of the Baecke Questionnaire of Habitual Physical Activity2 which subjectively measured the student's reported 1) school related activity; 2) participation in sport activity and 3) participation in non-sport leisure activity. Results: The index for “school related activity” indicated that athletic training students perceived their chosen major as physically demanding. However, the indices for participation in sport and non-sport leisure activity were relatively low. Conclusions: In spite of the physical requirements of the athletic training curriculum, athletic training student's relatively low rate of participation in sport and non-sport leisure time activity may have future health implications.


2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 150-158
Author(s):  
David Tomchuk ◽  
Barton E. Anderson

Context Tensegrity is a structural-organization model initially described in the architecture and design fields. By applying tensegrity design principles to biological structures, scientists have developed biotensegrity to explain a complex systems-on-systems structural-organization philosophy for integrated human movements. Objective To provide a brief historical overview of tensegrity and biotensegrity principles, including recommendations and benefits for integrating these structural models into athletic training education. Background Tensegrity and biotensegrity structures require constant interaction between continuous tension and discontinuous compression elements that connect through focal adhesion points. During the 1970s and 1980s, scientists applied tensegrity concepts to biological organisms to create an integrated model of human structure and interaction. Since then, biotensegrity has grown as an accepted biological structural model capable of explaining complex and integrated human movements. Synthesis By teaching tensegrity and biotensegrity principles, athletic training educators can provide athletic training students with a basic and consistent human body structural model. With this knowledge, students can better comprehend the integrated kinetic chain, including current and future prevention, examination, and rehabilitation paradigms. Results Although absent from the Practice Analysis, seventh edition, and the 2020 Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education curricular content standards, tensegrity and biotensegrity relate to many injury prevention, examination, treatment, and rehabilitation concepts regularly taught in professional athletic training programs. Recommendation(s) Athletic training educators should consider ways to incorporate biotensegrity models into professional athletic training programs to improve critical thinking and whole-person health care principles of athletic training students. Conclusion(s) Integrating tensegrity and biotensegrity principles into professional athletic training programs provides a structural hierarchy of human body organization that athletic training students can apply to a multitude of current and future methodical approaches.


2014 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 104-112 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah S. Benes ◽  
Stephanie M. Mazerolle

Context Successful athletic training programs should help students develop a desire to work within the athletic training profession while providing adequate preparation for them to enter the workforce. Understanding athletic training students' perceptions of the profession as they leave programs and the factors that influence these perceptions is critical in ensuring retention of graduating students in the field. Objective To examine senior athletic training students' [SATSs] attitudes, opinions, and perceptions of the athletic training profession and to gain insight into the factors that influence their career choice. Design Qualitative study. Setting Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education–accredited athletic training education programs. Patients or Other Participants A total of 26 SATSs (7 men, 19 women) who graduated in 2011. Main Outcome Measure(s) We collected data using semistructured phone interviews and implemented a grounded theory approach to analyze the data. We used member checks and multiple-analyst triangulation strategies to establish the trustworthiness of the data. Results The SATSs reported positive and negative perceptions about the profession within 2 major categories: (1) aspects of the profession and (2) public understanding of the profession. “Aspects of the profession” was described by long hours/schedule, low salary, family conflict issues, future of the profession, dynamism of the profession, and profession people enjoy. The “Public understanding of the profession” was articulated by public misconception and a lack of respect for the profession. Factors that influence their perceptions are related to prior experience with athletic training/sports, clinical experiences, and interaction with athletic training professionals. Conclusions The SATSs have developed positive and negative perceptions about the profession through their professional preparations. These are influenced by their progression through the program wherein they develop confidence and feel prepared to enter the workforce with a better understanding of and passion for the profession.


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