Comparison of Athletic Trainer Stress and Job Satisfaction with Different Models of Care Delivery

Abstract

Athletic training services are typically delivered by personnel administratively assigned to an athletic department 1 -Role of the team physician and/or athletic trainer (AT) may be influenced by athletic program priorities 2 -Job satisfaction, work-family conflict, job burnout, and intent to leave an organization are interrelated 3 -68% of ATs consider leaving profession due to poor salary, heavy workload, and lack of time for family 1 • Some institutions have replaced the "traditional" athletic program model with a "medical" model of service delivery -Athletic training services delivered as an extension of a student health services administrative unit 1 -Minimizes conflict of interest, with patient care decisions based upon an athlete's medical needs 2 -Increases compensation for ATs, elevates quality of patient care, and improves work-life balance 4• The purpose of this study was to assess any differences in AT stress and job satisfaction between the traditional model (TM) and the medical model (MM) for delivery of athletic training services BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE PARTICIPANTS AND PROCEDURES RESULTS CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Challenges Faced by Collegiate Athletic Trainers, Part II: Treating Concussed Student-Athletes

“…Athletic trainers who reported to athletic directors described a lower quality of life due to pressure to make decisions in the interest of coaches and not necessarily the student-athletes. 2 However, many health care providers report to team officials, especially at the highest level of National Collegiate Athletic Association participation. 2 Indeed, health care providers lacked the autonomy to make decisions that were truly in the best interest of their student-athletes, especially when dealing with concussion diagnoses.…”

“…2 However, many health care providers report to team officials, especially at the highest level of National Collegiate Athletic Association participation. 2 Indeed, health care providers lacked the autonomy to make decisions that were truly in the best interest of their student-athletes, especially when dealing with concussion diagnoses. 3 Further complicating concussion care, many such injuries go unreported by student-athletes.…”

“…Our research questions were (1) What, if any, were the challenges ATs face when examining and treating student-athletes with possible concussions? (2) Under what circumstances, if any, did ATs encounter conflict with coaches when examining and treating student-athletes with possible concussions? (3) Did ATs believe student-athletes were forthcoming regarding potential concussive symptoms?…”

Challenges Faced by Collegiate Athletic Trainers, Part I: Organizational Conflict and Clinical Decision Making

“…Athletic trainers who report directly to athletic directors and subsequently to coaches have experienced pressure to make timely decisions that affected not only their job status but also their quality of life. 6 Despite the advice of the NATA on the appropriate supervisory structure, ATs and team physicians are still reporting to athletic administration, particularly at the more competitive intercollegiate athletics levels. 6 Previous au-thors [6][7][8][9] have shown that the role of the supervisory structure in interpersonal conflict remains problematic.…”

“…6 Despite the advice of the NATA on the appropriate supervisory structure, ATs and team physicians are still reporting to athletic administration, particularly at the more competitive intercollegiate athletics levels. 6 Previous au-thors [6][7][8][9] have shown that the role of the supervisory structure in interpersonal conflict remains problematic. An article in the Chronicle of Higher Education 7 highlighted the pressures ATs face regarding return-to-play decisions: more than half of responding collegiate football ATs reported feeling pressure from their football coaches to return concussed players to action before the players were medically ready.…”