scholarly journals Stakeholder Perceptions of Clinical Immersion in Athletic Training Programs

2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 75-84
Author(s):  
Ashley M. Harris ◽  
Jennifer L. Volberding ◽  
Stacy E. Walker
Keyword(s):  
Athletic Training ◽  
Clinical Education ◽  
Professional Socialization ◽  
Comparative Method ◽  
Qualitative Interviews ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Intergenerational Learning ◽  
Learning Differences ◽  
Education Practice ◽  
Athletic Training Educators

Context Multiple concepts contribute to effective clinical education practice, such as professional socialization, mentoring, and intergenerational learning differences. As the professional degree transition occurs, programs are being afforded the opportunity to restructure clinical education experiences. In March of 2018, the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education released the newest version of the professional program accreditation standards, and 1 of the new standards that has been adopted requires programs to include a 4-week immersive experience. This concept of immersion as a means to deliver clinical education is not a new concept, but few use it in athletic training. Objective Identify perceptions of immersion as seen by athletic training educators and offer potential integration methods. Design Qualitative interviews conducted over the fall and winter of 2017. Setting Individual phone interviews. Patients or Other Participants Eleven athletic training educators with a variety of demographic characteristics. Main Outcome Measure(s) We analyzed data using the constant comparative method (2 researchers). A third then analyzed data for triangulation. Results Three themes were identified: (1) benefits of immersion, (2) implementation concerns, and (3) strategies for implementation. Conclusions Although many debate the length of immersive experiences and the value that such an experience brings, educators within this study agreed that immersion would provide benefits to their current clinical offerings. Additionally, individuals currently offering immersion experiences provided real-life examples and strategies that have the potential to provide insight and guidance for those who are still looking at options for implementation.

scholarly journals Program Directors' Perceptions of Programmatic Attributes Contributing to Athletic Training Student Persistence

2015 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 122-129 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas G. Bowman ◽  
Thomas M. Dodge ◽  
Stephanie M. Mazerolle
Keyword(s):  
Student Retention ◽  
Athletic Training ◽  
Clinical Education ◽  
Professional Education ◽  
Interpersonal Relations ◽  
Professional Socialization ◽  
Program Directors ◽  
Athletic Training Students ◽  
Student Centered ◽  
Athletic Training Student

Context Graduates of athletic training programs (ATPs) have identified factors contributing to their persistence through professional education. However, program directors have yet to elaborate on programmatic attributes that might contribute to athletic training student retention in their respective ATPs. Objective To determine program directors' perceptions of ATP strengths and areas for improvement regarding athletic training student retention. Design Qualitative study. Setting Bachelor's ATPs. Patients or Other Participants Sixteen ATP directors with 6.0 ± 4.0 years of experience in their current positions. Main Outcome Measure(s) The participants completed audio recorded telephone interviews. We analyzed the data using principles of grounded theory and maintained trustworthiness using multiple-analyst triangulation, peer review, and member checks. Results We found 2 themes to describe the strengths of bachelor's ATPs. Our participants thought that they provided a student-centered approach and diverse clinical education experiences leading to a supportive and exciting environment to foster athletic training student learning. We categorized the student centered approach theme into 3 subthemes: program size, student engagement and program atmosphere, and academic and clinical cohesion. Conclusions Program directors should strive to provide athletic training students with individual attention to help them feel welcomed, valued, and important. A small program size or adequate personnel can foster interpersonal relations which can provide athletic training students with mentoring opportunities. Improving ATP cohesion can provide learning opportunities which assist students in making connections and promote the importance of the academic and clinical education components of the ATP. Engaging athletic training students early through a variety of clinical education experiences can assist professional socialization and foster excitement for the profession.

scholarly journals A Mandala: A Diagram of the Clinical Education Experience in Athletic Training

2007 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 10-15
Author(s):  
Steve Cernohous ◽  
Sharon West
Keyword(s):  
Athletic Training ◽  
Clinical Experience ◽  
Clinical Education ◽  
Interpersonal Competence ◽  
Self Awareness ◽  
Clinical Experiences ◽  
Athletic Training Students ◽  
Self Reflection ◽  
Athletic Training Student ◽  
Athletic Training Educators

Objective: The objective of this paper is to present the practical use of a Mandala that: 1) provides opportunities for athletic training students to explore, reflect on and appreciate their clinical experiences; 2) provides educators with a model to understand and value athletic training student experiences; 3) organizes and captures factors and associated relationships that influence the athletic training student's clinical experience; and 4) provides impetus for further research and discussion between and among athletic training educators. Background: Athletic training educators often find it difficult to demonstrate and assess the behavioral component of learning. Creative teaching strategies and exercises that help athletic training students develop interpersonal competence, self-awareness, and self-reflection are needed in athletic training education. One approach to address this need is to employ the practical exercise of creating athletic training student Mandalas; portraits of self-expression and interpretation of their athletic training clinical experience. Description: The Mandala of Clinical Education depicts the individualistic and complex elements of the athletic training student clinical experience. It is a manifestation of a milieu of intrinsic and extrinsic elements, personal experience, and established research. The athletic training student is positioned in the center of the Mandala, embraced by contributing elements and the wholeness of the clinical experience. The artistic design reveals a series of gates, doors, and portals in which the elements of the student's experiences interact and serve as a point for self-reflection. Conclusion: Mandalas allow the athletic training student and educator opportunities to explore, understand, and value all clinical experiences in athletic training. Mandalas may also facilitate athletic training students developing interpersonal competence, self-awareness and self-reflection, all of which are key components to the foundational behaviors of professional practice.

Supervised Autonomy

2009 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 14-18 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrick Sexton ◽  
Linda S. Levy ◽  
K. Sean Willeford ◽  
Mary G. Barnum ◽  
Greg Gardner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Athletic Training ◽  
Clinical Education ◽  
Athletic Trainers ◽  
Primary Objective ◽  
Clinical Instructors ◽  
Clinical Experiences ◽  
Direct Supervision ◽  
Athletic Training Educators ◽  
Secondary Objective ◽  
Definition Of

Objective: The primary objective of this paper is to present the evolution, purpose, and definition of direct supervision in the athletic training clinical education. The secondary objective is to briefly present the factors that may negatively affect the quality of direct supervision to allow remediation and provide higher quality clinical experiences for athletic training students. Background: Athletic training educators and clinical instructors often engage in discussions regarding the direct supervision of ATSs. These discussions tend to center around concerns about ATS preparation, and how the current level of preparedness differs from that of the past. Some believe that direct supervision, rather than unsupervised practice, retards the ATSs' development; however, there is no current literature to support this concept. Description: Supervision means to watch or direct, while mentoring means to tutor, instruct, or guide; therefore, mentoring may be more descriptive of the desired/intended interaction between an ATS and their clinical instructor (CI). The intent of supervision is for an ATS to refine and improve their clinical proficiencies under CI guidance. For this to occur, the CI must alter their interactions with the ATS as the student evolves. Clinical Advantages: Developing the CIs' understanding of the intent and continuum of expectations associated with direct supervision will allow them to maximize their students' education and position them to become highly skilled and confident Athletic Trainers.

scholarly journals Self-Confidence and Perceptions of Athletic Training Students Following Simulated Experiences: A Mixed-Methods Pilot Study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hannah Stedge ◽  
Valerie Herzog
Keyword(s):  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Athletic Training ◽  
Clinical Education ◽  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Future Research ◽  
High Fidelity ◽  
Athletic Training Students ◽  
Repeated Measures Design ◽  
Self Confidence

Purpose: Athletic training clinical education provides students with a variety of real-life patient encounters under the supervision of a credentialed athletic trainer. However, clinical education experiences may not allow for all students to practice more invasive or less common skills such as rectal thermometry. The purpose of this study was two-fold: 1) determine the effect of a series of low to high-fidelity simulated rectal thermometry experiences on athletic training students’ self-confidence scores; and 2) through a phenomenological qualitative approach, explore athletic training students’ perceptions following the simulated rectal thermometry experiences. Method: This study used a quasi-experimental, mixed methods, one-group repeated measures design. Participants were nine first year professional Master of Athletic Training students who completed four simulated experiences on the skill of rectal thermometry. The outcome measures were The Athletic Trainer’s Self-Confidence Scale (ATSCS) and qualitative semi-structured open-ended interviews. Results: Friedman’s ANOVA revealed a statistically significant improvement from the participant’s baseline ATSCS scores to the last post-test scores. We identified three major themes following qualitative interviews: 1) Perception changes before and after participation; 2) Benefits of a series of four simulations; 3) Explanations for the improvements in confidence and competence. Conclusions: A series of simulated learning activities using high-fidelity and standardized patient interactions can help improve athletic training students’ self-confidence. Though future research is needed, athletic training education programs should consider implementing simulated experiences to equip athletic training students to transition to practice.

scholarly journals High Reliability: A Primer for Athletic Training Educators

2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 251-258 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christine Noller ◽  
David C. Berry
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Athletic Training ◽  
Clinical Education ◽  
Care Delivery ◽  
High Reliability ◽  
Athletic Trainers ◽  
Lean Six Sigma ◽  
Future Health ◽  
Athletic Training Educators ◽  
Potential Problems

Context Health care organizations are integrating employee training and educational programs to designate themselves as high-reliability organizations (HROs). HROs continually strive to evaluate and create an environment in which potential problems are anticipated, detected early, and virtually always responded to early enough to prevent catastrophic consequences. Objective This primer document introduces the concept of high reliability in health care (from a historical and foundational perspective) and establishes a framework for athletic training educators to introduce the concepts at the professional, postprofessional, or residency educational program level. Background While the theory of high reliability is new to athletic training, its quality and origins in health care are established. HROs use systems thinking to evaluate and design for safety and continuous improvement to create an environment where potential problems are anticipated, detected early, and responded to early enough to prevent tragic consequences. Synthesis The HRO focuses attention on emergent problems and deploys strategies to address those problems. HROs behave in ways that seem counterintuitive—they do not hide failures; instead, HROs celebrate them. HROs seek out problems and avoid focusing on just 1 aspect of work to see how all the parts fit together. They expect unexpected events and develop capabilities to manage them, deferring decisions to empowered experts. However, high reliability is only achieved through robust process improvement, which is only achieved with a complementary approach to Lean Six Sigma and change management. Recommendation(s) Given the complexity of patient care in athletic training, the potential for medical error(s), and the need for quality improvement, HROs hold promise for athletic training. Conclusion(s) As future health care leaders, athletic trainers should be educated to foster innovation and improve health care delivery to diverse patient populations. Athletic trainers should want to embrace the principles of HROs. Achieving high reliability can be accomplished with adequate exposure to and training within the classroom and during clinical education opportunities.

scholarly journals Issues in Selecting Methods of Evaluating Clinical Competence in the Health Professions: Implications for Athletic Training Education

2009 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 109-116 ◽  
Author(s):  
David A. Middlemas ◽  
Carleton Hensal
Keyword(s):  
Athletic Training ◽  
Clinical Assessment ◽  
Clinical Education ◽  
Clinical Setting ◽  
Clinical Competence ◽  
Allied Health ◽  
Health Professions ◽  
Simulated Patients ◽  
Allied Health Professions ◽  
Athletic Training Educators

Objectives: To examine methods used to evaluate the clinical competence and proficiency of students in medicine and allied health professions. To identify factors that would be valuable to educators in athletic training and other medical and allied health professions in the development and use of clinical assessment methods. Data Sources: We searched EBSCO Academic, InfoTrac, MEDLINE and PubMed for literature from professional journals related to clinical education, assessing clinical competence, clinical competence, clinical proficiency assessment. Data Synthesis: Assessment of competence in the clinical setting is an issue for medicine and allied health education programs, including athletic training. Methods used to assess clinical competence included written, objective tests, checklists, oral examinations, patient management problems, simulated patients, observed clinical situations, the Observed Structured Clinical Exam and observation of students. Each method has its advantages and concerns. Psychometric issues relating to reliability, validity and generalizability arise in the development and implementation of clinical assessment instruments. In addition, there are concerns about how faculty expectations relate to student performance and how novices perform in the clinical setting as compared to experienced practitioners. Conclusions/Recommendations: Although specific outcomes may differ between the medical and allied health professions, athletic training educators can benefit from the lessons learned about methods used to evaluate students in the clinical setting. In an effort to capitalize on the benefits and minimize the problems with the assessment of clinical competence and proficiency, athletic training educators must be aware of the psychometric and outcome-related issues in test development. Attention should be paid to issues of reliability, validity and generalizability when developing tests. Clinical education outcomes must be developed in a manner that addresses the variety of cognitive levels at which clinicians function in professional practice to develop authentic assessments of clinical proficiency.

scholarly journals Examining the Role Mentorship Plays in the Development of Athletic Training Preceptors

2016 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 127-137 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sara Nottingham ◽  
Jessica L. Barrett ◽  
Stephanie M. Mazerolle ◽  
Christianne M. Eason
Keyword(s):  
Athletic Training ◽  
Clinical Education ◽  
Outcome Measure ◽  
Athletic Trainers ◽  
Athletic Training Education ◽  
Multiple Roles ◽  
Mentoring Relationships ◽  
Athletic Training Educators ◽  
Ongoing Development ◽  
National Athletic Trainers Association

Context: Mentorship has been identified as a contributor to the socialization of athletic training preceptors. Understanding how mentorship occurs and contributes to preceptor development may help athletic training educators facilitate effective mentorship within their athletic training programs. Objective: Examine preceptors' perceptions of mentoring as part of their socialization into this role. Design: Qualitative study. Setting: Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education programs. Patients or Other Participants: Twelve athletic trainers representing 4 National Athletic Trainers' Association districts, including 5 men and 7 women, average age = 32 ± 10.5 years, and average of 5 ± 5.0 years' experience as a preceptor. Main Outcome Measure(s): Participants responded to 14 interview questions regarding their perceptions of mentoring. Two researchers analyzed data using an inductive approach to identify themes and supporting categories. Trustworthiness was established by piloting the interview, using multiple analyst triangulation, and peer review. Results: Four themes emerged from the data: (1) characteristics, (2) processes, (3) mentoring by emulating, and (4) roles of mentoring. Participants identified that communication and commitment are characteristics of effective mentorship. Preceptors learn to mentor by emulating other preceptors, and mentoring relationships develop through both formal and informal processes. Mentoring serves multiple roles for preceptors, including providing a support system and facilitating reciprocal learning for both mentors and protégés. Conclusions: Participants perceive mentoring as beneficial to their initial and ongoing development as preceptors. Preceptors learn to mentor by emulating current and past mentors, emphasizing the importance of modeling for both preceptors and students. Clinical education coordinators can facilitate the mentoring of preceptors by educating them on the benefits of engaging in it as well as connecting experienced preceptors with newer preceptors.

scholarly journals Should Athletic Training Educators Utilize Grades When Evaluating Student Clinical Performance?

2010 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 126-132 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kent Scriber ◽  
Courtney Gray ◽  
Rose Millspaugh
Keyword(s):  
Athletic Training ◽  
Clinical Education ◽  
Clinical Performance ◽  
Assessment Method ◽  
Assessment Instrument ◽  
Universal System ◽  
Organizational Skills ◽  
Athletic Training Educators ◽  
Valid Instrument ◽  
Evaluation Of Learning

Objective: To explore and address some of the challenges for assessing, interpreting, and grading athletic training students' clinical performance and to suggest athletic training educators consider using a more universal assessment method for professional consistency. Background: In years past students learned from teachers or mentors on an individualized basis without receiving a grade for their performance. Grading began primarily from a need to teach and evaluate more students at one time. Over the past two centuries, grading has become a complex process that serves multiple roles including evaluation of learning, skill development, motivation, communication abilities, organizational skills and behaviors. Description: Currently there are many ways to evaluate and grade students in clinical education courses. When evaluators use inconsistent assessment techniques and a grade is not measuring the same criteria, the validity of a grade becomes questionable. Consequently, feedback from a universal assessment instrument may be more meaningful. Clinical Advantages: Clinical instructors in athletic training education programs who assess and grade student clinical performance should measure similar criteria. Currently most educators express measurement of these criteria with a single letter grade. Consideration for a more reliable and valid instrument that includes more information should be given. Conclusion: A universal system of assessing clinical performance would present more accurate and consistent information than a single grade indicates. Athletic training educators are encouraged to consider re-evaluating how they assess clinical performance of students and what a single grade actually communicates to the student and others.

scholarly journals Achievement Goal Orientation for Athletic Training Education: Preparing for Lifelong Learning

2007 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 4-9
Author(s):  
Kimberly S. Peer
Keyword(s):  
Student Achievement ◽  
Student Engagement ◽  
Lifelong Learning ◽  
Goal Orientation ◽  
Athletic Training ◽  
Athletic Training Education ◽  
Achievement Goal ◽  
Achievement Goal Orientation ◽  
Clinical Settings ◽  
Athletic Training Educators

Objective: This review of literature presents the theoretical framework of goal orientation and student achievement from a pedagogical perspective while providing practical applications and implications for integrating goal orientation into athletic training education programs. Data Sources: Selected literature derived from EBSCO, Education Abstracts, CINAHL, PsychInfo and ERIC databases from 1980 to 2005 was reviewed. Key words for the search included achievement goal orientation, achievement motivation, and student engagement. Data Synthesis: Literature from educational psychology and pedagogy were reviewed to present key issues related to achievement goal orientation. The review addressed achievement goal theory relative to student engagement, task persistence, and adaptive behaviors. Additionally, implications for athletic training educators were generated for both didactic and clinical settings. Conclusions/Recommendations: Achievement goal orientation has profound implications on student learning and student achievement. Athletic training educators must be careful to create educational environments which foster self-regulated learning. Activities that assist students with goal construction and that monitor student progress toward a designated goal in the classroom and clinical settings should be of primary importance to athletic training educators. In a profession that requires lifelong learning; fostering strong achievement goals through student-centered activities can enhance the professional development of the student throughout the curriculum and beyond.

scholarly journals Assessment of Wheelchair Propulsion Performance in an Immersive Virtual Reality Simulator

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (15) ◽  
pp. 8016
Author(s):  
Yu-Sheng Yang ◽  
Alicia M. Koontz ◽  
Yu-Hsuan Hsiao ◽  
Cheng-Tang Pan ◽  
Jyh-Jong Chang
Keyword(s):  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Spinal Cord Injuries ◽  
Qualitative Interviews ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Structured Interview ◽  
Wheelchair Propulsion ◽  
Subjective Data ◽  
Wheelchair Users ◽  
Head Mounted Display ◽  
Propulsion Performance

Maneuvering a wheelchair is an important necessity for the everyday life and social activities of people with a range of physical disabilities. However, in real life, wheelchair users face several common challenges: articulate steering, spatial relationships, and negotiating obstacles. Therefore, our research group has developed a head-mounted display (HMD)-based intuitive virtual reality (VR) stimulator for wheelchair propulsion. The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility and efficacy of this VR stimulator for wheelchair propulsion performance. Twenty manual wheelchair users (16 men and 4 women) with spinal cord injuries ranging from T8 to L2 participated in this study. The differences in wheelchair propulsion kinematics between immersive and non-immersive VR environments were assessed using a 3D motion analysis system. Subjective data of the HMD-based intuitive VR stimulator were collected with a Presence Questionnaire and individual semi-structured interview at the end of the trial. Results indicated that propulsion performance was very similar in terms of start angle (p = 0.34), end angle (p = 0.46), stroke angle (p = 0.76), and shoulder movement (p = 0.66) between immersive and non-immersive VR environments. In the VR episode featuring an uphill journey, an increase in propulsion speed (p < 0.01) and cadence (p < 0.01) were found, as well as a greater trunk forward inclination (p = 0.01). Qualitative interviews showed that this VR simulator made an attractive, novel impression and therefore demonstrated the potential as a tool for stimulating training motivation. This HMD-based intuitive VR stimulator can be an effective resource to enhance wheelchair maneuverability experiences.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document