Athletic Trainers' Beliefs & Injury Report Toward Working with Special Olympic Athletes

by Eric James (homepage) & Phillip Conatser (homepage), The University of Texas at Brownsville & Texas Southmost College

Original Study: Phillip Conatser, Keith Naugle, Mark Tillman, and Christine Stopka
http://ukpmc.ac.uk/articles/PMC2681214/

The purpose of this article is to share some of the main findings between Athletic Trainers and their relationship with Special Olympic athletes. Before starting, let's pay tribute to the 2.8 million hard working Special Olympics athletes in the United States. If anyone has ever helped with SO, I believe you would agree that they are indeed athletes that are very special.

The study involved 120 Athlete Trainers (directors of certified programs) from 43 States and 120 cities. A survey instrument was used to collect data which was based on the theory of planned behavior model (Ajzen, 1985). Both validity (panel of experts, factor analysis) and reliability (test-retest, Cronbach Alpha test) showed the instrument was excellent.

Demographic Variables Q&A:

• Are you male or female? 76 males & 44 female
• How many years have you been an Athletic Trainer? Mean = 15 years
• How many years of experience have you had working with SO athletes? Mean = 3 years
• Are you currently working with SO athletes? Only 14 Athletic Trainers
• Highest degree of education attained? 16% Undergraduate, 67% Masters, 17% Ph.D.
• List professional credentials? Mean = 2
• List Special Olympic training? 66% = 0; 26% = 1; 4% = 2; 3% = 3
• How many undergraduate or graduate courses have you taken in adapted physical education? 69% 1 or more
• How many undergraduate or graduate courses have you taken (outside of physical education, e.g., special education) that have dealt specifically with students with disabilities? 38% 1 or more
• How competent do you feel toward working with Special Olympic athletes? (Scale; Very = 3, Some what = 2, Not at all = 1) Mean = 2
• Do you believe SO coaches (e.g., parents, guardians, special education teachers) and/or SO athletes are aware of the resources certified athletic trainers could provide? 83% = No
• Are there Athletic Trainers available for SO athletes or coaches? 50% Yes & No
• If yes, how often is the athletic trainer (AT) directly accessible? Sometimes
• If yes, how comfortable do you feel collaborating with coaches and/or athletes with disabilities about athletic training services and the prevention of athletic injuries? Not Comfortable
• If no, what reasons keep athletic trainers from working with SO coaches and/or athletes?
  • Not educated about opportunities
  • Not enough financial resources
  • Not enough time availability
  • Lack of Athletic Trainers
  • Lack of education
  • Lack of experience
  • Not interested in athletes with disabilities
  • Discomfort around disabilities
  • Fear of hurting SO athletes
  • Not sure if coaches know AT can be a resource
  • It takes a "special" person to work with SO people
• Do you believe SO athletes would benefit from the services of a certified AT? 96% = Yes
• Do you believe the treatment and prevention of injuries to SO athlete is the best they could receive? 91% = No
• In general, who do you believe is responsible for immediate treatment, care, and rehabilitation of injuries to SO athletes?
     - Primary people (i.e. caregivers, coaches, teachers)
     - Event volunteers
     - Physicians
     - Athletic trainers when available

Survey Instrument Measures:

Attitudes (good - bad, Like- dislike), social norm (how others feel you should act), perceived control (resources), intention (are you going do it), and behavior (did you do what you said) were measure toward Athletic Trainer (AT) beliefs working with Special Olympic (SO) athletes. Results showed that attitude, social pressure, and perceived control significantly predicted intention, as well as intention significantly predicted athletic trainers' actual behaviors.

Demographic variables that increase favorable attitudes were a) more years experience working with SO athletes, b) one or more courses in adapted physical activity, c) athletic trainers' competence, d) one or more special education courses; social norm were a) more experience working with SO athletes, b) more SO certifications, and perceived control c) athletic trainers' competence, d) more years experience working with SO athletes, e) higher educational degree.

What minor injuries have your SO athletes suffered?

What major injuries?

What environmental related injuries?

What other incidents have occurred?

Problem

• Athletic trainers had favorable attitude toward working with SO athletes, however, their social norm, perceived control, and intentions were NOT favorable and their actual behavior reflected this belief.
• ATs reported they did not feel competent to work with SO athletes.
• Only 11% of ATs regularly work with SO athletes.
• 15 years average experience as an AT, however only 3 years working with SO athletes.
• 51% of ATs had no experience with SO athletes
• 66% had no formal SO training or certifications.
• Only 69% and 26% had college courses in adapted physical education or special education, respectively.
• Special Olympic Athletes have sports related injuries.

Plausible Solution

• A logical hypotheses would be that education and experience relates to feelings of competence. This relationship leads to favorable attitudes, social, and control beliefs which would result in more Special Olympic Athletes being afforded the benefits of ATs skills and knowledge.
• Enhancements to athletic training education programs are needed to ensure that athletic trainers are sufficiently educated to work with athletes who have disabilities.
• SO coaches (parents, teachers) need to utilize services ATs provide.
• Both ATs and SO coaches need to increase communication.
• All people involved in SO (coaches, SO directors, Special Education directors, Athletic Directors, case workers) need to become knowledgeable of the laws that effect people with disabilities and fight for equality. Question: Women and Men athletes receive care from ATs, THEN WHY NOT Special Olympic Athletes? Is this equal? Is this right? Check out Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which protects against discrimination in athletics/sports for people with disabilities.

In closing

The study clearly showed SO athletes have injuries, and these injuries are not receiving rehabilitation or preventive care from ATs. ATs have positive attitudes, and believe SO athletes would benefit from their services. However, their lack of education, experience, and confidence is preventing this service. Athletic Training Programs need to develop and implement curriculum and field based experiences for disabilities to increase the likelihood ATs will work with SO athletes.

For more detail read:
Conatser, P., Naugle, K., Stopka, C., & Tillman, M. (2010). Athletic training programs: Are they teaching enough about athletes with disability. Athletic Therapy Today, 15(5), 34-36.

Conatser, P., Naugle, K., Tillman, M., & Stopka, C. (2009). Athletic trainers attitude toward working with Special Olympic athlete. Journal of Athletic Training, 44(3), 279-285.

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