Legislators' Perceptions and Knowledge of the Athletic Training Profession: Specific Considerations for Secondary Schools

Abstract

Context Legislation has played a role in advancing the athletic training profession and improving the health and safety of student-athletes. However, few researchers have examined state legislators' perceptions and awareness of the skills and qualifications accompanying the athletic trainer (AT) role. Objective To explore state legislators' perceptions of the athletic training profession and knowledge related to qualifications and responsibilities of ATs. Design Cross-sectional study. Setting Web-based questionnaire. Patients or Other Participants State legislators representing 34 states (N = 143; 67.13% male, 32.87% female). Their average age was 58.7 ± 11.7 years, and they had served 7.4 ± 6.9 years in their current role. A majority served as members of the state house or assembly (n = 98, 68.5%), and 31.5% served in the state senate. Main Outcome Measure(s) Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Spearman ρ correlations assessed relationships between perceptions and knowledge of the profession. Stepwise regression analysis determined predictors of knowledge and perceived value of athletic training. Qualitative data were analyzed inductively. Results Approximately 69% of respondents considered an AT to be a trusted source of medical information, and 16% considered an AT as the most appropriate individual to provide medical care to an injured athlete on a daily basis. Thirty percent of state legislators selected AT employed at the school as a top sports safety measure. Three themes emerged from the inductive analysis: (1) recognition of the prevention domain, (2) misconception of ATs as personal trainers or strength and conditioning coaches, and (3) lack of knowledge regarding ATs' educational requirements. Conclusions Legislators demonstrated limited knowledge of the AT profession. When legislator knowledge of AT qualifications and responsibilities was high, value of the AT profession also significantly improved. Future efforts should focus on enhancing legislators' knowledge to increase the value placed on the athletic training profession and improve health and safety for secondary school athletes.

Linking Data on Constituent Health with Elected Officials’ Opinions: Associations Between Urban Health Disparities and Mayoral Officials’ Beliefs About Health Disparities in Their Cities

“…Our study has five main limitations. First, although the mayoral official survey response rate (30.3%) is considered good for elected officials 69 and was higher than recent surveys of this population, 4–7,14,17 small but statistically significant differences were observed between the cities whose mayoral officials completed the survey and cities whose mayoral officials did not participate. Also, when comparing participating and nonparticipating mayoral officials, we were only able to observe differences between the characteristics of their cities—not differences between the characteristics of the respondents and nonrespondents.…”

“…Recruitment materials stated that it was preferred for the mayor to complete the survey but their deputy mayor was permitted to complete it as an alternate. The survey was completed by 230 mayoral officials (101 mayors, 129 deputy mayors or equivalent), for a response rate of 30.3%, which is considered good for elected officials 69 and was higher than the response rate for other national surveys of elected officials about health issues conducted since 2014 4–7,14,17 …”

“…1 For this reason, while policies have been the focal point of most health policy research, elected officials have also been the focus of substantive inquiry at the intersection of politics and health. 2 Such studies survey, [3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17] interview, 15,[18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25] and observe [26][27][28][29] elected officials with the goal of understanding what they think about specific health issues, what they do to address them, and why they think and act as they do. These studies have contributed to theories about health policymaking and informed practices to promote evidence-informed health policymaking.…”

“…The survey was completed by 230 mayoral officials (101 mayors, 129 deputy mayors or equivalent), for a response rate of 30.3%, which is considered good for elected officials 69 and was higher than the response rate for other national surveys of elected officials about health issues conducted since 2014. [4][5][6][7]14,17 Survey data from mayors and deputy mayors were analyzed together because there were no significant differences between the two types of respondents in terms of their opinions about the existence of health disparities (P = .53) or fairness of health disparities (P = .44). 3 The study was approved by the Drexel University Institutional Review Board.…”

Differences in Access to Athletic Trainers in Public Secondary Schools Based on Socioeconomic Status

“…11,34 One challenge to receiving this funding is that state legislators have limited knowledge of the athletic training profession and they do not consider athletic trainers as the most appropriate individuals to provide medical care to high school athletes. 35…”