Department of Interdisciplinary Health Sciences, A.T. Still University, Mesa, AZ.
Korey Stringer Institute, Department of Kinesiology, University of Connecticut, Storrs.
J Athl Train. 2021 Sep 1;56(9):1018-1028. doi: 10.4085/54-20.
Athletic directors are charged with making impactful decisions for secondary school athletic programs that mitigate risks for stakeholders. This includes decision making regarding the provision of medical care for student-athletes. To date, few researchers have explored athletic directors' perceptions of the athletic training profession.
To evaluate public school athletic directors' knowledge and perceptions of the athletic trainer (AT) role.
Concurrent mixed-methods study.
Cross-sectional online questionnaire.
Athletic directors representing all 50 states and the District of Columbia (N = 954; 818 men, 133 women, 3 preferred not to answer; age = 47.8 ± 9.1 years; time in current role = 9.8 ± 8.3 years).
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): The questionnaire was composed of demographics, quantitative measures that assessed athletic directors' knowledge and perceived value of ATs, and open-ended questions allowing for expansion on their perspectives. Descriptive statistics were reported, with key quantitative findings presented as count responses and overall percentages. Qualitative data were analyzed using the general inductive approach.
A majority of respondents recognized ATs' role in injury prevention (99.8%), first aid and wound care (98.8%), therapeutic interventions (93.8%), and emergency care (91.6%). Approximately 61% (n = 582) identified AT employment as a top sport safety measure, and 77% (n = 736) considered an AT to be extremely valuable to student-athlete health and safety. Athletic directors appeared to recognize the value of ATs as they provided "peace of mind" and relieved coaches and administration of the responsibility for making medical decisions.
Athletic directors seemed to recognize the value ATs brought to the secondary school setting and demonstrated adequate knowledge regarding ATs' roles and responsibilities. Educational efforts for this population should focus on ATs' tasks that add to their perceived value but are not frequently in the public eye, which may influence hiring decisions.
体育主任负责为中学体育项目做出有影响力的决策，以降低利益相关者的风险。这包括为运动员提供医疗服务的决策。迄今为止，很少有研究人员探讨过体育主任对运动训练专业的看法。
评估公立学校体育主任对运动训练师（AT）角色的认知和看法。
同期混合方法研究。
横断面在线问卷。
代表全美 50 个州和哥伦比亚特区的体育主任（N=954；818 名男性，133 名女性，3 名选择不回答；年龄=47.8±9.1 岁；现任职务时间=9.8±8.3 年）。
问卷由人口统计学、定量测量组成，评估体育主任对 AT 的知识和感知价值，以及允许扩展其观点的开放式问题。报告描述性统计数据，主要定量发现以计数反应和总体百分比呈现。使用一般归纳方法分析定性数据。
大多数受访者认识到 AT 在预防损伤（99.8%）、急救和伤口护理（98.8%）、治疗干预（93.8%）和紧急护理（91.6%）方面的作用。约 61%（n=582）认为 AT 的就业是运动安全的首要措施，77%（n=736）认为 AT 对学生运动员的健康和安全极为有价值。体育主任似乎认识到 AT 的价值，因为他们提供了“安心”，并减轻了教练和管理人员做出医疗决策的责任。
体育主任似乎认识到 AT 为中学环境带来的价值，并对 AT 的角色和责任有足够的了解。针对这一人群的教育工作应侧重于 AT 的任务，这些任务增加了他们的感知价值，但并不经常受到公众关注，这可能会影响招聘决策。
