scholarly journals Assessment of Certified Athletic Trainers' Levels of Cultural Competence in the Delivery of Health Care

2010 ◽  
Vol 45 (4) ◽  
pp. 380-385 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeremy Marra ◽  
Tracey Covassin ◽  
René R. Shingles ◽  
Renee Branch Canady ◽  
Tom Mackowiak

Abstract Context: The concept of culture and its relationship to athletic training beliefs and practices is virtually unexplored. The changing demographics of the United States and the injuries and illnesses of people from diverse backgrounds have challenged health care professionals to provide culturally competent care. Objective: To assess the cultural competence levels of certified athletic trainers (ATs) in their delivery of health care services and to examine the relationship between cultural competence and sex, race/ethnicity, years of athletic training experience, and National Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA) district. Design: Cross-sectional survey. Setting: Certified member database of the NATA. Patients or Other Participants: Of the 13 568 ATs contacted, 3102 (age  =  35.3 ± 9.41 years, experience  =  11.2 ± 9.87 years) responded. Data Collection and Analysis: Participants completed the Cultural Competence Assessment (CCA) and its 2 subscales, Cultural Awareness and Sensitivity (CAS) and Cultural Competence Behavior (CCB), which have Cronbach alphas ranging from 0.89 to 0.92. A separate univariate analysis of variance was conducted on each of the independent variables (sex, race/ethnicity, years of experience, district) to determine cultural competence. Results: The ATs' self-reported scores were higher than their CCA scores. Results revealed that sex (F1,2929  =  18.63, P  =  .001) and race/ethnicity (F1,2925  =  6.76, P  =  .01) were indicators of cultural competence levels. However, we found no differences for years of experience (F1,2932  =  2.34, P  =  .11) or NATA district (F1,2895  =  1.09, P  =  .36) and cultural competence levels. Conclusions: Our findings provide a baseline for level of cultural competence among ATs. Educators and employers can use these results to help develop diversity training education for ATs and athletic training students. The ATs can use their knowledge to provide culturally competent care to athletes and patients and promote a more holistic approach to sports medicine.

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.


2014 ◽  
Vol 49 (4) ◽  
pp. 521-531 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fredrick A. Gardin ◽  
James M. Mensch

Context: Knowledge and experience may be important factors for understanding expertise based upon a clinician's ability to select and execute an appropriate response as a clinician during injury evaluation. Objective: To describe how collegiate male certified athletic trainers represent injury-evaluation domain knowledge during a situational interview using a think-aloud protocol. Design: Qualitative. Setting: National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I and II colleges in National Athletic Trainers' Association District 3. Patients or Other Participants: A total of 20 male certified athletic trainers (n = 10 with less than 2 years of experience in the college setting and n = 10 with at least 10 years of experience in the college setting) participated in the study. Data Collection and Analysis: We collected data using a situational interview and questionnaire. Data were transcribed, reduced to meaningful units, and analyzed using verbal analysis procedures. Member checks, triangulation of data, field journaling, and peer-debriefing techniques were used to ensure trustworthiness of the data. Knowledge concepts were enumerated to describe differences between experts and novices. Results: Compared with novices, experts had more knowledge concepts of patient history and predictions and fewer concepts of situation appraisal. Conclusions: Expertise in athletic training shares traits with other areas in health care. Athletic training education and professional development may benefit from our understanding which cognitive processes differentiate expert practice. Future investigators should attempt to describe other settings and study diagnostic problem solving in a natural environment.


2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 270-277
Author(s):  
Patricia A. Aronson ◽  
Lorin A. Cartwright ◽  
Rebecca M. Lopez

Context It has become increasingly important that athletic trainers (ATs) understand and promote diversity, inclusion, and cultural competency. One technique athletic training educators can use to promote cultural competency for those in the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and asexual (LGBTQIA+) community is by attending a safe space ally training (SST) program to integrate the concepts of SST programing into their curriculum. Objective To provide athletic training educators with techniques to integrate inclusion and cultural competence regarding the LGBTQIA+ community into the athletic training curriculum using SST content. Our goal is that athletic training educators will train future ATs as well as embrace individual professional development. Background The National Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA) LGBTQ+ Advisory Committee (AC) has created an SST workshop for athletic trainers. Educators can promote cultural competency throughout the curriculum using evidence-based training programs such as the NATA LGBTQ+ AC SST. Description The emphasis of SST is to improve cultural competence regarding sexual minorities to improve inclusivity in all athletic training settings. It is critical that athletic training education programs prepare graduates to be competent, compassionate, patient-centered and professional ATs who are ready to function as health care professionals for all patients. Clinical Advantage(s) A goal of cultural competency is to create an inclusive environment within all athletic training settings, whether it be in a classroom, a clinic, or a nontraditional work setting. Health disparities and health care inequities must be appreciated by every AT to deliver compassionate and competent care for all in marginalized populations. Educators can make a difference in the future of athletic training by increasing the cultural competency of their students. Conclusion(s) Patient-centered care, knowledge of the care of those in diverse and minority populations, and ethical behavior can be enhanced through SST programs.


2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. p32
Author(s):  
Ashley M. Harris ◽  
Jennifer L. Volberding ◽  
Lawrence Richardson ◽  
W. David Carr

Cultural competence education is a foundational behavior of professional practice that Athletic Training Programs (ATPs) have been tasked to incorporate into their curriculums. Ten ATP faculty were individually interviewed to determine the current methods used to teach provision of culturally competent care. Four major themes were identified: 1) Barriers to cultural competence education implementation in a didactic setting, 2) Strategies for incorporation into an existing didactic curriculum, 3) Barriers to cultural competence education in a clinical setting, and 4) Strategies to implement cultural competence education into an existing clinical model. Further research is necessary to determine the effectiveness of specific strategies.


2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 87-93
Author(s):  
Destinee Grove ◽  
Jamie Mansell ◽  
Dani Moffit

Context Culturally competent care has been on the radar of peer health care professions for many years. The unique patient populations that athletic trainers work with lend us to be at the forefront of delivering truly patient-centered care. However, we have not yet appropriately incorporated this tenet of evidence-based practice. Objective To convey the importance of culturally inclusive care and education to athletic training clinical practice and educational programs. We also present a novel way to intertwine inclusivity in the classroom and the clinic in a way that is accessible at any point in one's cultural competence journey. Background Historically, cultural competence in athletic training education has focused on ethnicity and race. The students we teach and the patients we treat share a variety of cultures that are often forgotten yet need to be included for a more holistic approach. Recommendation(s) Athletic trainers and athletic training educators need to continue the journey toward delivering culturally inclusive care. This journey also needs to extend to the classroom, from the delivery methods of teaching to the way we interact with our students. Teaching priorities should include a focus on the cultures around and within our profession.


2015 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 146-158 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bonnie J. Siple ◽  
Rodney K. Hopson ◽  
Helen C. Sobehart ◽  
Paula S. Turocy

Context Black women are dramatically underrepresented in the health care profession of athletic training. It may be theorized that one of the reasons more black female students are not entering into the profession of athletic training is that they do not have adequate mentors to successfully guide them. Objective The purpose of our qualitative study was to examine the perceived effects of mentoring on the retention and credentialing of black women athletic trainers. Design Qualitative. Setting Clinical settings. Patients or Other Participants Ten certified athletic trainers who self-designate as black women. Main Outcome Measure(s) We conducted one-on-one phone interviews and follow-up on personal case study interviews, which were transcribed verbatim. We performed constant comparative analysis of the data and established trustworthiness via member checks and peer review. Results (1) Mentoring promotes matriculation and successful college completion and credentialing of black women athletic training students, and (2) although shared race and gender are favorable mentor characteristics, accessibility and approachability are more essential traits of mentors. Conclusions These findings offer athletic training educators potential insight into ways to improve the athletic training educational success of black women enrolled in athletic training education programs that may lead to their increased participation/advancement in the athletic training profession.


2010 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Louis Small ◽  
Louise Pretorius

A survey was conducted using open and close-ended questions to determine how visiting nursing students in Namibia could be assisted during their visits (cultural encounters). Many students decide to complete their clinical exposure in a foreign country, either for personal reasons or in order to meet the course requirements for transcultural nursing. Since 1998, Namibia has received a number of these students. In discussion and from passing remarks from the students themselves, the question has arisen as to how an optimum placement for each student might be achieved. Aspects of the Campina–Bacote model and The Process of Cultural Competence in the Delivery of Health Care Services were used to answer this question. It was decided to gather both biographical (profile) information and information on perceptions of nursing care in Namibia from such foreign nursing students.The biographical (profile) information collected indicates a prevalence of certain shared biographical characteristics among international students. Such students tend to be adventurous, caring and sensitive to human rights issues. This finding correlates with the constructs of cultural desire and cultural awareness as described in the model of Campina–Bacote. Based on this finding, specific recommendations were made for clinical allocations.From the data gathered from the open-ended questions, three themes emerged: firstly, nursing in Namibia has identifiable characteristics; secondly, there is a paternalistic and one-sided communication style among nursing caregivers in Namibia; and finally, nursing care delivery in this country is often characterised by a detached attitude. It was concluded that these themes correlated with a cultural awareness and cultural knowledge among the nursing students. The discovery of these themes was useful for making recommendations for clinical guidelines to help these students adapt, as well as for providing a foundation and substantiation for clinical placement.Opsomming’n Opname bestaande uit oop en geslote vrae is uitgevoer om te bepaal hoe besoekende verpleegstudente aan Namibië ondersteun kan word (kulturele ervarings). Baie studente besluit om hulle kliniese praktika in die buiteland te voltooi, óf om persoonlike redes óf om aan kursusvereistes in transkulturele verpleging te voldoen. Sedert 1998 het Namibië ’n aantal van hierdie studente ontvang. Uit gesprekke met sowel as spontane kommentaar deur hierdie studente het die vraag ontstaan hoe hulle optimum plasing verseker kan word. Aspekte van die model van Campina–Bacote, naamlik The process of cultural competence in the delivery of health care services , is benut om hierdie vraag te beantwoord. Daarom is besluit om biografiese inligting sowel as inligting oor die studente se persepsies van verpleging in Namibië in te samel. Die biografiese inligting (profiel) het die voorkoms van sekere biografiese kenmerke onder die internasionale studente getoon: Hulle neig daartoe om avontuurlik, deernisvol en sensitief vir menseregte te wees. Dié bevinding korreleer met die konstrukte van kulturele begeertes en kulturele bewustheid soos beskryf in die model van Campina–Bacote. Op grond van hierdie bevindinge is bepaalde aanbevelings aangaande hulle kliniese plasings gemaak. Die data deur die oop vrae verkry het drie temas gegenereer, naamlik dat verpleging in Namibië bepaalde identifiseerbare kenmerke openbaar, dat ’n paternalistiese en eensydige kommunikasiestyl onder verpleegkundiges in Namibië voorkom en dat verpleegsorg deur ’n onbetrokke houding gekenmerk word. Die gevolgtrekking was dat hierdie temas met ’n kulturele bewustheid en kulturele kennis onder die verpleegstudente korreleer. Die identifisering van hierdie temas was bruikbaar as basis vir die motivering van kliniese plasings en in die maak van aanbevelings ten opsigte van kliniese riglyne om die studente te help om aan te pas.


2011 ◽  
Vol 46 (4) ◽  
pp. 415-423 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leamor Kahanov ◽  
Elizabeth J. Gilmore ◽  
Lindsey E. Eberman ◽  
Jeffrey Roberts ◽  
Tamar Semerjian ◽  
...  

Context: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections are increasingly common in athletic settings. The MRSA knowledge and infection-control practices of certified athletic trainers (ATs) and the cleanliness of the athletic training room are important factors in preventing MRSA infections. Objective: To assess knowledge of MRSA and the use of common disinfectants among ATs and to explore their infection-control practices. Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: High school and collegiate athletic training rooms. Patients or Other Participants: A total of 163 ATs from National Collegiate Athletic Association Divisions I, II, and III and high schools, representing all 10 National Athletic Trainers' Association districts. Main Outcome Measure(s): Frequencies, analyses of variance, and χ2 tests were used to assess current practices and opinions and relationships between factors. Results: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus was perceived as a national problem by 92% of respondents; 57% perceived MRSA as a problem in their practice setting. Most respondents had treated general infections (88%), staphylococcal infections (75%), and MRSA infections (57%). Male sex was associated with treating all 3 types of infections (χ2 test, P < .05). Noncurriculum education was associated with a lack of recognition of environmental issues as risk factors and with the use of isopropyl alcohol for disinfection (χ2 test, P < .05). For example, 10% of respondents did not recognize that contaminated whirlpools can be a source of MRSA infection. Respondents also incorrectly identified effective cleaning solutions. Thirty percent of respondents cleaned their hands frequently or sometimes before treating each athlete and 35% cleaned their hands sometimes, occasionally, or never after seeing each athlete. Conclusions: The majority of ATs were informed about MRSA and made correct disinfection choices. However, improvements are still needed, and not all ATs were using proper disinfection practices.


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