The status of athletic department ATOD policies has received limited attention. Few studies have examined the extent to which athletic trainers are currently involved in developing and revising their drug education and prevention policies. This study compared the perceptions of head athletic trainers from NCAA member Divisions I, II and III toward the status of their current ATOD policies and what they would ideally like to see in their athletic departments. Policy issues were related to each of the following four domains, 1) policy implementation; 2) educational programs; 3) ATOD policy enforcement; 4) athletic trainer participation in developing and evaluating ATOD policies. A web-based questionnaire was designed to collect data. Responses were collected from (353) head athletic trainers at three NCAA member institutions. Conveying ATOD policies to visiting student athletes related to the use of drugs banned by the NCAA during recruitment visits was the highest priority among HATS in three NCAA divisions. Athletic trainers from all divisions wanted to see ATOD education programs scheduled closer to athletic events when the potential for drug use could increase. Drug enforcement policies related to the consequences of testing positive for using a banned drug after a second or a third time by athletes was a high priority for Division I and III HATS. Division II trainers reported that mandatory drug testing was also a high priority. More Division I NCAA member institutions had evaluated their ATOD policies during the past year compared to Division I and III members. Participation in developing and revising athletic department and team ATOD policies was an important priority for head athletic trainers. HATS who were more involved in developing ATOD policies mentioned that they gained a better understanding of drug abuse and drug testing issues when they were part of their athletic departments' policy making process. / Graduation date: 2004

Thesis (Ed.D.)--University of Central Florida, 2009. / Advisers: David Boote, Debbie Hahs-Vaughn. Includes bibliographical references (p. 147-153).

The purpose of this study was to assess Head Athletic Trainers (ATC) of NCAA Division I collegiate institutions perceived adequacy of professional preparation in implementing injury-related sport psychology skills and strategies. A survey instrument was developed and sent to all Head ATCs at NCAA Division IA institutions. Descriptive statistics were computed for information regarding educational background,. years of experience, number of varsity sports served, sport psychology backgrounds, specific sport psychology management strategies used and related perceived competence. Also, independent t-tests were conducted to examine differences in responses between professional preparation/backgrounds of the respondents and their perceived adequacy of preparation when utilizing sport psychology management strategies. Results indicate that 48% of NCAA Division IA Head ATCs have completed a formal course in sport psychology, and that perceived confidence when utilizing sport psychology skills and strategies are higher for this group. Better understanding of the role sport psychology plays in injury rehabilitation will allow ATCs to enhance their athletes' physical recovery from injury. / School of Physical Education

There are many choices of specialists to be utilized in a sport medicine support staff. The effectiveness of any athletic training program depends on the organization and utilization of these specialists. The purpose of this investigation was to review current practices of accessibility, utilization, and compensation of sports medicine support staff at NCAA Division I, II, and III institutions. A random sample of 225 NCAA institutions equally stratified by level (Division I, II, 111) was obtained from the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) directory. A questionnaire was sent to 75 head athletic trainers in each of three NCAA divisions levels. Of the 225 questionnaires mailed, 178 were returned representing a 79% response rate.The accessibility and utilization of support staff was equally distributed with respect to gender and sports at all division levels. When examining the support staff, Division I had consistently higher accessibility and utilization rates than Division II and Ill. This study may assist athletic trainers to evaluate or update their program by reviewing current practices of accessibility utilization, and compensation of support staff. / School of Physical Education

Thesis (M.S.)--Ohio University, June, 2009. / Title from PDF t.p. Includes bibliographical references.

O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar os efeitos de um programa de capacitação de treinadores sobre comportamentos de um treinador de tênis no estabelecimento de metas para seus atletas durante o treino. Um treinador de tênis com 21 anos de idade e 3 de experiência, e dois atletas, com idade entre 15 e 16 anos, que treinavam e competiam regularmente, participaram da pesquisa. O estudo foi dividido em três fases. Na fase de linha de base,realizou-se a filmagem de 11 sessões de treino e calculou-se a porcentagem de ocorrência de instruções, encorajamentos, críticas/sarcamos, correções e elogios, fornecidos aos atletas, pelo treinador. Registrou-se, também, os tipos de exercícios aplicados pelo treinador e o número de vezes que o treinador registrou o desempenho dos atletas e que participou dos exercícios aplicados. Em seguida, iniciou-se a fase intervenção (Fase 2),composta por quatro passos, em um total de 10 sessões. Cada sessão consistiu no treino de habilidades específicas do treinador (observar e registrar comportamentos, planejar critérios e prazos de evolução do desempenho, fornecer feedback etc.) antes do treino e no acompanhamento subseqüente do treino com os atletas. Providenciou-se feedback para o treinador, durante os treinos e ao final destes. Finalmente, na pós-intervenção (Fase 3),procedeu-se como na Linha de Base. Os resultados mostraram que houve aumento na porcentagem de instruções, correções e elogios descritivos e redução na porcentagem de críticas/sarcasmos, durante e após a intervenção. Observou-se, ainda, que houve um aumento da porcentagem de registros dos desempenhos dos atletas e da participação do treinador nos exercícios. Verificou-se que os comportamentos aprendidos pelo treinador ocorreram nas interações com outros alunos de outras turmas. Também observou-se melhora no desempenho dos atletas – que atingiram as metas estabelecidas. Os resultados sugerem, portanto, a efetividade da intervenção na capacitação de treinadores no uso da estratégia de estabelecimento de metas, bem como a necessidade de mais investigações com um maior número de treinadores, de diferentes modalidades. / The aim of this study was to assess the effects of a coach training program on the behaviors of a tennis coach while establishing goals for his athletes during practice. A 21-year – old coach with 3 years of experience, and 2 athletes, aged between 5 and 16 years old who have practiced and competed regularly took part in this research. The study was divided in three phase. During the baseline phase, 11 sessions of training were filmed and the percentage of occurrence of the instructions, encouragement, criticism/sarcasm,corrections and praise, given to athletes by their coach, were calculated. It was also recorded the type of drills used and the number of times in which the coach has registered the athletes development and his participation in the required drills. Following, it was initiated the intervention phase (Phase 2), consisting of four steps, totalizing 10 sessions. Each session was composed of the training of specific coach abilities (observe, register the athlete’s behavior, criterion and development time, provide feedback etc.) before practice and by the post-training follow-up with the athletes. Feedback was provided for the coach, during and after the training. Finally, during the post-intervention (Phase 3), procedures were set such as in baseline phase. The results showed that was an increase of the percentage of instructions, corrections and descriptive praise, and the decrease of the percentage of criticism/sarcasm, during and after intervention. It was also observed the increase of number of times when the development of the athletes were registered and the coach’s participation in the performed drills. It was seen that the knowledge obtained by the coach was used to interact with different students other than those. It was also observed the improvement on the athletes performance – who have achieved the established goals. Therefore, the results suggest the effectiveness of the intervention while training coaches in the use of the goal-setting strategy, as well as the need of further investigation using a larger number of coaches in sports other than tennis.

The pressure on athletes to perform and stay healthy is ever more intense. This being the case, athletes suffering injuries of the operative nature with extensive rehabilitation protocols are more prone to psychological ramifications related to their injury and rehabilitation. Literature has addressed some of the issues; however the role of self-efficacy on rehabilitation adherence has not directly been evaluated. Furthermore, the particular nature of self-efficacy related to athletic participation, injury, and subsequent rehabilitation, as well as the role an athletic trainer plays in enhancing or diminishing one's sense of self-efficacy has not specifically been evaluated. Therefore the purpose of this study is to uncover some of the literature gaps and is two-fold: (i) to evaluate how an athlete's sense of self-efficacy impacts his/her adherence to their rehabilitation program, and (ii) to assess the impact an athletic trainer may have on an athlete's self-efficacy during rehabilitation. Results of this study are intended to enhance the quality and efficiency of athletic injury rehabilitation and have been designed with the athletic training professional in mind .

This study investigates how perceptions vary in athletic trainers regarding issues pertaining to women in the profession. Subjects included 1500 male and 1500 female certified athletic trainers who responded to 44 demographic and perceptions survey items used to determine whether perceptions were different based on the respondent's gender. Results were compared to a previously disseminated survey in 1996 to also determine if perceptions had changed from 10 years earlier. Results regarding the presentation of awards and the attainment of leadership positions in the organization were also compared to actual data collected. The data suggested that males perceptions had not changed, but females' perceptions had changed, in that females perceived that opportunities had improved. Data regarding the number of females who had ascended to leadership positions or had received awards did not support these perceptions, however, and female athletic trainers continue to struggle to obtain equality in both of these areas. Additionally, homosocial reproduction continues to influence the decreased number of women who are hired into various jobs, or advance into leadership positions, maintaining patriarchy in the athletics arena and in the athletic training organizations. Results suggested that because athletic training has been dominated by men since its inception, patriarchy continues to influence the lack of ascension of women into leadership positions and awards recognition. Many women are choosing to leave the profession due to the gender role pressure that they can not sustain a career in athletic training and raise a family. Men's professional sports continue to reject the concept of hiring women to serve as athletic trainers with their athletes, which also continues to preserve a patriarchal environment.

The purpose of this study was to qualitatively examine the perceptions and experiences of individuals involved in peer assisted learning (PAL) in the clinical setting of an athletic training education program. A qualitative research approach was utilized to examine the value of PAL experiences in the clinical education setting, define participants' perspectives on interactions with peers in the clinical education setting, and determine which terms were used most commonly by athletic training students and ACIs in describing educational exchanges amongst peers in the BSU athletic training education program. Data was collected through a series of in-depth, semi-structured interviews that pursued the various perceptions and experiences regarding PAL from individuals involved in the BSU athletic training education program. A purposeful sample of 15 participants, consisting of 9 athletic training students, 3 alumni, and 3 ACIs, were asked a set of core questions that explored their perceptions and experiences of PAL within the athletic training program. Data analysis consisted of a coding format which involved the development of themes as a result of the information provided during the interviews. Identified themes were based upon frequency, extensiveness, and significance of comments that occurred through the interview process. The findings suggest PAL activities occur on a regular basis among athletic training students in clinical education experiences and involve informal, active learning situations where students work together to help each other learn. Peers were viewed as individuals having similar knowledge, training, or experiences who help each other with learning, reviewing athletic training competencies and proficiencies, or solving problems within the clinical education setting. Athletic training students involved in PAL at BSU prefer to experience active and informal educational exchanges amongst their peers. Athletic training educators, including faculty, ACIs and even athletic training students, should be aware of the benefits of PAL to learners within athletic training education programs. The use of this type of active, informal learning strategy may significantly impact the success of students involved in athletic training education. / Department of Educational Studies

Utilizing an analogue research design conducted via the Internet, this study assessed athletic trainers' abilities to recognize, diagnose, and intervene with a hypothetical athlete experiencing depression, and examined the impact of their gender, athlete gender, and athlete's presenting problem on their decisions. Athletic trainers' perceived competency in using psychosocial interventions with athletes, history of referring athletes to psychology professionals, and training backgrounds in psychology also were examined. Participants (270 male and 370 female certified athletic trainers) were randomly assigned to one of six conditions (Athlete Gender X Presenting Problem). After reading the appropriate vignette, they completed questions related to the athlete's psychological symptoms and diagnosis, referral recommendations, and use of psychosocial interventions if working with the athlete. The vignettes were identical except for the athlete's gender and problem. Overall, athletic trainers accurately identified the athlete's depressive symptoms/diagnosis and need for psychological referral. They rated the athlete significantly higher in Depressive Symptoms than in Anger/Agitation Symptoms and Compulsive Behavioral Symptoms, and as more likely to be experiencing a depressive disorder compared to an adjustment disorder, anxiety disorder, sleep disorder, or substance abuse disorder. Female athletic trainers provided significantly higher ratings of Depressive Symptoms than males and the injured athlete was rated significantly higher in Anger/Agitation than the performance problem athlete. Diagnosis ratings were not influenced by athlete gender, athletic trainer gender, or type of problem. Athletic trainers were most likely to refer the athlete to a psychology professional compared to an allied health professional, treating the athlete themselves, or doing nothing. Presenting problem significantly impacted referral recommendations. If treating the athlete themselves, athletic trainers were significantly more likely to use supportive interventions than cognitive-behavioral techniques; they felt significantly more competent in providing supportive interventions. Competency in both interventions was significantly enhanced if athletic trainers completed psychology coursework. Findings suggest that athletic trainers are able to accurately identify and intervene with athletes experiencing psychological problems.