scholarly journals Preceptors' Frequency and Supervision of Athletic Training Students' Medical Documentation During Clinical Education

2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 182-190
Author(s):  
Elizabeth R. Neil ◽  
Cailee E. Welch Bacon ◽  
Sara L. Nottingham ◽  
Tricia M. Kasamatsu ◽  
Lindsey E. Eberman

Context Athletic trainers (ATs) who serve as preceptors for athletic training students must model, facilitate, and guide professional skills and behaviors, including medical documentation. Preceptors have the unique ability to combine skill practice with real-time patient encounters for athletic training students. Objective To describe the frequency of preceptors who allow athletic training students to complete medical documentation and rationale for their decisions. Design Cross-sectional. Setting Qualitative study. Patients or Other Participants Of 9578 ATs, 1150 responded to an electronic survey (access rate = 12.0%), and 385 of 1150 respondents who completed an electronic survey (33.5%) indicated being a preceptor for a professional athletic training program. Respondents (age = 34 ± 11 years, clinical practice experience = 11 ± 10 years) were predominantly female (53.8%, n = 207) and held a master's degree (67.3%, n = 259). Main Outcome Measure(s) A 3-member data analysis team coded the open-ended responses following the consensual qualitative research approach. Each member coded 50 responses and a consensus codebook was created. The principal investigator coded the remaining responses, and the data analysis team confirmed the findings. Data were organized into emergent domains and categories. Frequency counts were calculated for each category. Results A majority of preceptors (81.8%, n = 315) allowed their athletic training students to document patient care. Respondents indicated an intention for student involvement (domain 1), whereby they wanted students to engage in learning and develop knowledge (43.4%, n = 167) or practice and gain experience (41.3%, n = 159). However, others discussed deterrents (20.0%, n = 77) working against the preceptor's intentions. Respondents also indicated a need to mentor (domain 2). Specifically, they reported needing to manage the logistics of documentation (63.6%, n = 245) and the degree of oversight (48.8%, n = 188) needed during practice (either direct [79.8%, n = 150 of 188] or indirect [20.2%, n = 38 of 188]). Conclusions Although preceptors intend to integrate students into medical documentation, they may benefit from formal guidance from the academic program on how to best integrate athletic training students into documenting day-to-day patient care.

2014 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 182-189 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephanie M. Mazerolle ◽  
Thomas G. Bowman ◽  
Sarah S. Benes

Context Clinical experiences are an integral part of athletic training education and are where students gain the hands-on, practical knowledge and skills necessary to provide quality patient care in the field. However, some clinical education experiences may not allow athletic training students to become clinically integrated. Objective To explore athletic training students' perspectives on their clinical learning experiences, specifically as they relate to an engaging learning environment. Design Qualitative study. Setting Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education accredited undergraduate programs. Patients or Other Participants Twenty-one athletic training students (6 juniors; 15 seniors) with an average age of 22 years (20–23 years) from 4 National Athletic Trainers' Association districts volunteered to participate in our study. Data Collection and Analysis Participants responded to a series of open-ended questions by journaling their thoughts and opinions through the secure website QuestionPro. Data were analyzed using open coding that was guided by a general inductive procedure. Data credibility was established through peer review, interpretative member checks, and multiple analyst triangulation. Results Our cohort identified an engaging learning environment as one that allowed active learning and participation as an athletic trainer and included communication between the student and preceptor, patient interactions, and instructor feedback regarding development and application of skills and knowledge. Conclusions Athletic training students prefer a more active learning style and value observing their preceptor engage in patient care, but they also want the opportunity to practice their athletic training skills to gain competence and confidence.


2015 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 75-81 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas M. Dodge ◽  
Stephanie M. Mazerolle ◽  
Thomas G. Bowman

Context Clinical integration impacts athletic training students' (ATSs) motivation and persistence. Research has yet to elucidate the manner in which different clinical placements can influence clinical integration. Objective To examine differences in the levels of clinical integration achieved by ATSs across various clinical sport assignments. Design Cross-sectional survey. Setting Thirteen undergraduate athletic training programs. Patients or Other Participants Questionnaires were administered to 169 ATSs previously engaged in clinical education experiences. One hundred twenty-nine participants completed the questionnaire, for a response rate of 76.33%. Participants completed an average of 4 ± 2 clinical rotations. Intervention(s) The 11-item clinical integration scale was administered either in-person or online methods. Responses were scored on a 6-point Likert scale (1 = strongly disagree to 6 = strongly agree). Main Outcome Measure(s) Mean clinical integration scores (potential minimum score of 11, maximum score of 66), were calculated for each clinical placement. One-way analysis of variance was used to identify differences in clinical integration achieved across clinical placements. Results We found differences in clinical integration achieved across various clinical assignments (F19,415 = 3.486, P < .001). Students completing a rotation with college football achieved the lowest levels of clinical integration (46.9 ± 9.1). Other sports rated higher, ranging from 51.6 ± 10.1 (baseball) to 57.8 ± 4.5 (lacrosse), with all reporting less anxiety and time wasting than were associated with football. The high school rotation was also rated highly (54.7 ± 6.4), with higher levels of learning reported and fewer concerns about anxiety, excessive hours, and wasting time. Conclusions There were clear differences in clinical integration achieved between sites. In particular, ATSs completing clinical rotations with college football reported the lowest levels of clinical integration. These low levels of integration stemmed from feelings of wasting time, completing menial tasks, excessive hours, and anxiety associated with the educational experience.


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.


Author(s):  
David Berry ◽  
Jennifer Popp

Purpose: Research suggests skill decay occurs with emergency skills, such as supplemental oxygen administration (OA), since the frequency of medical emergencies in clinical settings is low. Identifying the presence and timeline for skill decay allows educators to employ strategies to prevent this occurrence. Therefore, this study evaluated retention of knowledge and clinical skills associated with supplemental oxygen administration, specifically nasal cannula (NC) and non-rebreather mask (NrM) usage in professional athletic training students. Methods: Cross-sectional study. Twenty-nine athletic training students (males=11, females=18; age=21.03+1.38) enrolled in a Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE)-accredited professional athletic training programs. Participants’ supplemental oxygen administration knowledge and skills was assessed five times (baseline-T4). The baseline assessment was followed by an educational review session. Participants’ knowledge and skills were re-assessed (T1) and then randomly assigned to two groups. The experimental group’s supplemental oxygen administration knowledge and skills were re-evaluated at 1-month (T2), 3-months (T3), and 6-months (T4). The control at 6-months (T4). Results: Analysis revealed no significant differences between the groups on knowledge (F2,54=.15, P=.86) and overall clinical skills (F2,54=1.52, P=.23). A significant main effect for time on knowledge (F2,54=65.30, P1.89,50.98=112.55, P1.55,41.88=108.03, P Conclusions: Both groups retained supplemental oxygen administration knowledge over 6-months. Conversely, nasal cannula and non-rebreather mask skills decayed from review session to 6-month follow-up. Regular rehearsal and practice of acute care clinical skills should be integrated into educational programs to avoid decay of skills. Since these skills are not frequently utilized in the clinical education environment, integrating opportunities to practice these skills to maintain the competence level of students and prepare them for clinical practice is warranted.


2017 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 225-233 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sara L. Nottingham ◽  
Melissa M. Montgomery ◽  
Tricia M. Kasamatsu

Context: Clinical education experiences that actively engage students in patient care are important to the development of competent clinicians. It is important to assess athletic training students' time spent clinically and explore new technology that may facilitate more active learning during clinical education. Objective: To assess athletic training students' active learning time with and without the use of bug-in-ear technology. Design: Cross-sectional. Setting: High school, rehabilitation clinic, and college/university clinical sites affiliated with 3 Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education–accredited undergraduate athletic training programs. Patients or Other Participants: Thirteen athletic training students (11 females, 2 males; 22.0 ± 1.8 years old, 1.8 ± 0.9 years enrolled in the current athletic training program) and 8 preceptors (5 females, 3 males; 35.4 ± 10.4 years old, 3.5 ± 2.9 years of experience as a preceptor) volunteered for this study. Intervention(s): The principal investigator observed preceptor-student interactions on 2 control days and 2 days using bug-in-ear technology. Participants and the principal investigator assessed students' active learning time at each observation period using the Athletic Training Clinical Education Time Framework. Main Outcome Measure(s): Minutes spent on instructional, clinical, managerial, engaged waiting, and down time as recorded on the Athletic Training Clinical Education Time Framework. Parametric (analysis of variance) and nonparametric (Wilcoxon signed-rank and Kruskal-Wallis) tests compared the perceived amount of time spent in each category between technologies and roles. Results: Bug-in-ear technology resulted in less time on managerial tasks (8.2% ± 5.1% versus 14.6% ± 9.8%; P < .01) and instruction (10.7% versus 12.7%, P < .01). The researcher observed significantly more unengaged waiting time than both the students and preceptors (both P < .01) perceived. Conclusions: Bug-in-ear technology may decrease managerial time and spoken instruction during clinical experiences. Preceptors and students significantly underestimate the amount of unengaged time spent during clinical education, which is of concern. Athletic training programs may also benefit from assessing and improving students' time spent actively learning during clinical education.


2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 219-234
Author(s):  
Gillian T. Shaughnessy ◽  
Ashley K. Crossway ◽  
Lindsey E. Eberman ◽  
Sean M. Rogers ◽  
Zachary K. Winkelmann

Context The United States transgender patient population often suffers from insufficient health care and faces barriers to obtaining health care. Understanding the current classroom education provided in professional athletic training programs related to patient-centered and transgender patient care is necessary to foster improvements to the education of future health care providers. Objective To explore the education, comfort, and experience of professional athletic training students and program directors (PDs) on patient-centered care (PCC) and transgender patient care. Design Cross-sectional survey. Setting Online survey. Patients or Other Participants A total of 74 PDs of Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education-accredited professional athletic training programs (age = 46 ± 9 years) and 452 athletic training students (age = 23 ± 3 years) responded to the survey. Data Collection and Analysis Two surveys were created from literature and were reviewed by a committee of content experts. Participants were sent links to their respective survey in March 2020. Surveys contained questions on demographic information, PCC, and transgender patient care. Data were analyzed descriptively with follow-up χ2 analyses comparing athletic training students' comfort and competence between those who learned and did not learn about transgender patient care. Results Most PDs reportedly felt comfortable (98.6%, n = 73) and competent (94.6%, n = 70) teaching PCC. Half (50% n = 37/74) of PDs include transgender health care in their program's curriculum but lacked competence (37.8%, n = 28) in teaching. All students felt comfortable (100%, n = 452) and competent (98.7%, n = 446) practicing PCC, but only 12.4% (n = 54) reported practicing it during clinical education. Less than half (43.1%, n = 195/452) of students learned about transgender patient care, yet most (78.3%, n = 354) felt comfortable but lacked competence (41.8% n = 189). Conclusions Few students reportedly practice PCC during clinical education. Both groups perceived deficiencies in competence related to transgender patient care. We suggest PDs teach transgender health care in their curriculum and seek professional development to create meaningful educational experiences.


2016 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 161-167
Author(s):  
Dani M. Moffit ◽  
Jamie L. Mansell ◽  
Anne C. Russ

Context: Accrediting bodies and universities increasingly require evidence of student learning within courses and programs. Within athletic training, programmatic assessment has been a source of angst for program directors. While there are many ways to assess educational programs, this article introduces 1 systematic approach. Objective: This article describes the steps necessary to create an assessment plan that meets the needs of the accrediting body, the program, and the athletic training students. Background: Assessment helps determine if the program's goals and objectives are meeting the athletic training students' needs. Program review cannot be accomplished in a manner that is helpful unless the assessment plan is systematic, planned, and ongoing. Recommendation(s): Effective and systematic assessment plans provide a framework for program evaluation, modification, and improvement. Conclusion(s): Assessment should be an ongoing process which creates opportunities for active learning. Clinical education needs to be included in the overall programmatic assessment, as those courses provide application of didactic learning.


2015 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 32-38 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephanie M. Mazerolle ◽  
Thomas G. Bowman ◽  
Sarah S. Benes

Context Clinical experiences help athletic training students gain real-time learning experiences by engaging in patient care. Observational learning has been identified as important to athletic training student development, yet little is known about its effectiveness. Objective To explore the athletic training students' perspectives on their experiences in the clinical education setting, particularly examining the effectiveness of observational learning. Design Qualitative study. Setting Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE)-accredited undergraduate programs. Patients or Other Participants Twenty-four athletic training students (7 juniors and 17 seniors) from 4 National Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA) districts volunteered to participant in our study. The average age was 21 years (range, 20–23 years). Main Outcome Measure(s) Participants responded to a series of open-ended questions by journaling their thoughts and opinions through the secure Web site QuestionPro. Questions examined clinical education experiences and learning preferences. The resulting data were analyzed using a general inductive procedure, and credibility was established by employing peer review, member checks, and multiple analyst triangulation. Results Our analysis revealed that observational learning can benefit students when academic standing is considered, the circumstances are right, and it allows for directed mentoring. Our participants valued opportunities to engage in observational learning, as long as it was limited and purposeful. Conclusions All 24 participants identified themselves as hands-on learners who preferred to be actively engaged during their learning experiences, but who also valued opportunities to observe their preceptors demonstrating and modeling appropriate skills and behaviors before engaging in the same practices themselves. Today's student, the millennial, appears to favor visual learning, which may partially explain why our cohort of athletic training students described observational learning as advantageous in certain situations.


2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 101-111
Author(s):  
Ashlyne Paige Vineyard ◽  
Andrew Gallucci ◽  
Kathleen Adair ◽  
Leslie Oglesby ◽  
Kristina White ◽  
...  

Context Burnout is a psychological syndrome consisting of increased emotional exhaustion (EE), depersonalization (DP), and decreased personal accomplishment (PA). To date, examinations of burnout among athletic training students (ATS) is limited. Objective To determine prevalence and antecedents of burnout among ATS. Design Cross-sectional study. Setting Web-based survey. Patients or Other Participants Students enrolled in athletic training programs (ATP). Intervention(s) A survey assessed demographics, stressors, and burnout measured by the Maslach Burnout Inventory–Human Services Survey. Main Outcome Measure(s) Multiple regression analyses were used to determine relationships between variables. Results A total of 725 students participated. Most respondents were undergraduates (n = 582, 80%), female (n = 518, 71%), Caucasian (n = 564, 78%), and single (n = 422, 58%). Mean burnout scores for EE, DP, and PA were 33 ± 10, 17 ± 4.5, and 39 ± 5.8, respectively. Survey responses showed that 70.8% of undergraduate and 62.9% of graduate students reported high EE. All the students (100%) in both samples reported high DP. Undergraduates pursuing internships or residencies (b = −7.69, P < .001) and who were currently enrolled in non–Division I institutions (b = −2.90, P < .01) had decreased EE. Increased stress revealed increased EE (overall stress: b = 3.11, P < .001; social stress: b = 1.32, P < .05; class stress: b = 1.45, P < .05). Increases in clinical hours also related to increased EE (b = 1.49, P < .001). Those pursuing internships or residencies (b = −2.10, P < .05) and who were female (b = −2.10, P < .05) reported decreased DP. Being married (b = 2.87, P < .01), increased clinical hours (b = 0.77, P < .001), and social stress (b = 0.59, P < .05) resulted in increased DP. Increased PA was seen in students intending to pursue graduate education (b = 1.76, P < .05) and female students (b = 1.17, P < .05). Graduate students' stress levels revealed increased EE (b = 6.57, P < .01) and DP (b = 0.98, P < .05). Conclusions Differences exist between undergraduate and graduate burnout scores and associated predictors. Further research is needed to identify student responses to burnout.


Author(s):  
Heather Hudson ◽  
Valerie Herzog

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the factors that contribute to student persistence and gauge prospective athletic training students' perceptions of experiences that contributed to their persistence. Method: The Athletic Training Student Persistence-Revised Survey was developed to gather data about program attributes, social, academic, clinical integration, and program commitment. Institutional demographics, program demographics, and program attributes were collected during interviews. Surveys were administered online through SurveyMonkey. Survey data were returned anonymously by designated contact persons (Athletic Training Program Directors or Clinical Education Coordinators) for all freshmen prospective athletic training students enrolled in the athletic training introductory course/s. Descriptive statistics and non-parametric differences and correlations were calculated. The inductive process was used in coding open-ended data. Results: The Mann Whitney U test and Spearman Rho analysis demonstrated significant results. Program attributes along with clinical integration had the weakest correlations (r = -0.36 and r = -0.32, respectively), while academic integration and program commitment had the strongest (r = -0.58 and r = -0.76, respectively). No predictive variables were found. Qualitatively, persisters and non-persisters managed the pre-application period differently. Additionally, the rapport between athletes and athletic trainers serving as preceptors, the relationships between prospective athletic training students and extant athletic training students, and the mentorship displayed by athletic training students were all contributors to persistence. Conclusions: Communication between the athletic training program director and prospective athletic training students is vital, but the core of the study revealed that what transpires during clinical observation hours, within the introductory course/s, between athletic trainers and athletes, and between athletic training students/preceptors and prospective athletic training students are of even greater importance. The findings demonstrated that decisions to persist are the result of all parties and components associated with the athletic training program, not just one.


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