Time's Up! Needed Cultural Changes in Athletic Training Education and Clinical Practice

Abstract

Context Culturally competent care has been on the radar of peer health care professions for many years. The unique patient populations that athletic trainers work with lend us to be at the forefront of delivering truly patient-centered care. However, we have not yet appropriately incorporated this tenet of evidence-based practice. Objective To convey the importance of culturally inclusive care and education to athletic training clinical practice and educational programs. We also present a novel way to intertwine inclusivity in the classroom and the clinic in a way that is accessible at any point in one's cultural competence journey. Background Historically, cultural competence in athletic training education has focused on ethnicity and race. The students we teach and the patients we treat share a variety of cultures that are often forgotten yet need to be included for a more holistic approach. Recommendation(s) Athletic trainers and athletic training educators need to continue the journey toward delivering culturally inclusive care. This journey also needs to extend to the classroom, from the delivery methods of teaching to the way we interact with our students. Teaching priorities should include a focus on the cultures around and within our profession.

Embedding Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion into a Kinesiology Curriculum: A Detailed Report of a Curriculum Redesign

“…Students that choose not to continue on to graduate school need DEI education to adequately work with students, athletes, patients, and clients after graduation. As such, it appears that earlier exposure is advantageous for these students, as they can build a foundation and embody DEI principles prior to them starting a career (Grove et al 2021). Given the importance of kinesiology and kinesiology-related programs adequately preparing graduates to work with diverse populations in diverse work environments (Davis 2010;Grove et al 2021;Marra et al 2010;Chappell and Provident 2020;Wilson et al 2014), the purpose of this report is twofold: (i) to provide a thorough description of the curriculum redesign process for an undergraduate kinesiology and health promotion (KHP) program, and (ii) to use our experience to provide more general recommendations to other departments and universities undergoing curricular redesign.…”

“…As such, it appears that earlier exposure is advantageous for these students, as they can build a foundation and embody DEI principles prior to them starting a career (Grove et al 2021). Given the importance of kinesiology and kinesiology-related programs adequately preparing graduates to work with diverse populations in diverse work environments (Davis 2010;Grove et al 2021;Marra et al 2010;Chappell and Provident 2020;Wilson et al 2014), the purpose of this report is twofold: (i) to provide a thorough description of the curriculum redesign process for an undergraduate kinesiology and health promotion (KHP) program, and (ii) to use our experience to provide more general recommendations to other departments and universities undergoing curricular redesign. Below, we share how our modified curriculum provides technical competencies as well as cultural proficiencies as it relates to DEI, which aims to better prepare graduates seeking professional careers across various fields.…”

“…The attention to race and ethnicity is warranted given the racial disparity among certified professionals; approximately 31% of athletes and 40% of the US population identify as non-White while 10% of head athletic trainers and 23% of licensed physical therapists identify as non-White (Perrin 2000;Matthews et al 2021). However, culturally inclusive health care has been recommended to provide more holistic, patient-centered care (Grove et al 2021). For example, Wilson and colleagues suggest that cultural competency in health professional education should also include sexual and gender diversity to address potentially unfavorable attitudes toward queer individuals (Wilson et al 2014).…”