Perceived Management of Acute Sports Injuries and Medical Conditions by Athletic Trainers and Physical Therapists
# Background While Athletic Trainers’ (ATs) education emphasizes sport event coverage, Physical Therapists’ (PTs) education may prepare them for event coverage responsibilities. The objectives of this study were to compare the perceived preparedness and decision-making related to acute injury/medic...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
North American Sports Medicine Institute
2021-12-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.26603/001c.29850 |
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| _version_ | 1825197047204020224 |
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| author | Alan Wallace Matthew S. Briggs James Onate John DeWitt Laurie Rinehart-Thompson |
| author_facet | Alan Wallace Matthew S. Briggs James Onate John DeWitt Laurie Rinehart-Thompson |
| author_sort | Alan Wallace |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | # Background
While Athletic Trainers’ (ATs) education emphasizes sport event coverage, Physical Therapists’ (PTs) education may prepare them for event coverage responsibilities. The objectives of this study were to compare the perceived preparedness and decision-making related to acute injury/medical condition management among ATs and PTs and evaluate the relationship between perceived preparedness and decision-making.
# Hypothesis
ATs would report greater perceived preparedness and appropriate decision-making related to acute injury/medical conditions compared to PTs.
# Study Design
Cross-sectional, Online survey
# Methods
An electronic survey was disseminated to licensed ATs (n=2,790) and PTs (n=10,207). Survey questions focused on perceived preparedness for management of acute injuries/medical conditions. Respondents also completed questions that assessed clinical decision-making related to acute injury case scenarios. Kruskal-Wallis H-Tests and Spearman’s Rho Correlations were used for the analysis. Significance was set to p<0.003 after adjustment for family-wise error.
# Results
Six-hundred and fifty-five respondents (292 ATs, 317 PTs, 46 dual credentialed PT/ATs) completed the entire survey. ATs had the highest level of perceived preparedness of all the groups (p<0.0003). Greater than 75% of PTs responded either “appropriately” or “overly cautious” to 10 of the 17 case scenarios, as opposed to 11 of the 17 case scenarios by ATs. Greater than 75% of the PTs who were board specialty certified in sports responded either “appropriately” or “overly cautious” to 13 case scenarios.
# Conclusion
More ATs than PTs perceived themselves to be prepared to manage acute injuries/ medical conditions. Further, results indicate that PTs may be an effective and safe provider of event coverage. Conditions/injuries with low perceived preparedness or poor performance may offer both ATs and PTs an opportunity to identify areas for future training and education to optimize care for athletes with acute injuries or medical conditions.
# Level of Evidence
Level 3b |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-d5218fd69f0949bc991a51a275686327 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2159-2896 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2021-12-01 |
| publisher | North American Sports Medicine Institute |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy |
| spelling | doaj-art-d5218fd69f0949bc991a51a2756863272025-02-11T20:28:10ZengNorth American Sports Medicine InstituteInternational Journal of Sports Physical Therapy2159-28962021-12-01166Perceived Management of Acute Sports Injuries and Medical Conditions by Athletic Trainers and Physical TherapistsAlan WallaceMatthew S. BriggsJames OnateJohn DeWittLaurie Rinehart-Thompson# Background While Athletic Trainers’ (ATs) education emphasizes sport event coverage, Physical Therapists’ (PTs) education may prepare them for event coverage responsibilities. The objectives of this study were to compare the perceived preparedness and decision-making related to acute injury/medical condition management among ATs and PTs and evaluate the relationship between perceived preparedness and decision-making. # Hypothesis ATs would report greater perceived preparedness and appropriate decision-making related to acute injury/medical conditions compared to PTs. # Study Design Cross-sectional, Online survey # Methods An electronic survey was disseminated to licensed ATs (n=2,790) and PTs (n=10,207). Survey questions focused on perceived preparedness for management of acute injuries/medical conditions. Respondents also completed questions that assessed clinical decision-making related to acute injury case scenarios. Kruskal-Wallis H-Tests and Spearman’s Rho Correlations were used for the analysis. Significance was set to p<0.003 after adjustment for family-wise error. # Results Six-hundred and fifty-five respondents (292 ATs, 317 PTs, 46 dual credentialed PT/ATs) completed the entire survey. ATs had the highest level of perceived preparedness of all the groups (p<0.0003). Greater than 75% of PTs responded either “appropriately” or “overly cautious” to 10 of the 17 case scenarios, as opposed to 11 of the 17 case scenarios by ATs. Greater than 75% of the PTs who were board specialty certified in sports responded either “appropriately” or “overly cautious” to 13 case scenarios. # Conclusion More ATs than PTs perceived themselves to be prepared to manage acute injuries/ medical conditions. Further, results indicate that PTs may be an effective and safe provider of event coverage. Conditions/injuries with low perceived preparedness or poor performance may offer both ATs and PTs an opportunity to identify areas for future training and education to optimize care for athletes with acute injuries or medical conditions. # Level of Evidence Level 3bhttps://doi.org/10.26603/001c.29850 |
| spellingShingle | Alan Wallace Matthew S. Briggs James Onate John DeWitt Laurie Rinehart-Thompson Perceived Management of Acute Sports Injuries and Medical Conditions by Athletic Trainers and Physical Therapists International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy |
| title | Perceived Management of Acute Sports Injuries and Medical Conditions by Athletic Trainers and Physical Therapists |
| title_full | Perceived Management of Acute Sports Injuries and Medical Conditions by Athletic Trainers and Physical Therapists |
| title_fullStr | Perceived Management of Acute Sports Injuries and Medical Conditions by Athletic Trainers and Physical Therapists |
| title_full_unstemmed | Perceived Management of Acute Sports Injuries and Medical Conditions by Athletic Trainers and Physical Therapists |
| title_short | Perceived Management of Acute Sports Injuries and Medical Conditions by Athletic Trainers and Physical Therapists |
| title_sort | perceived management of acute sports injuries and medical conditions by athletic trainers and physical therapists |
| url | https://doi.org/10.26603/001c.29850 |
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