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Keywords

Health Professions Education

Abstract

Patient-centered care is essential in athletic training with limited research examining the relationship between patient and clinician. Previous theory has identified constructs of quality athletic trainers (ATs); however, it remains unknown how current athletes perceive these theorized constructs in the ATs providing them medical care. The purpose of this study was to determine the perceptions of characterizations of a quality athletic trainer and interpersonal trust between the student-athlete and AT in the collegiate setting and establish reliability of these surveys. A second aim was to explore differences between sex, previous exposure to an AT, and having had access to an AT in high school. Prior to the academic year, 393 Division-I student-athletes completed a survey consisting of a Likert-rating of characterization constructs (care, communication, commitment, integrity, knowledge) of a quality AT and the Trust in Athletic Trainer Scale, a modified version of the 11-item Trust in Physician Scale. High internal consistency was established for the construct survey (Cronbach a = 0.97) and the Trust in AT Scale (Cronbach a = 0.91). Student-athletes strongly perceived their ATs possess each of the 5 constructs, as well as strongly trusting their AT (48.06 ± 6.2/55). Those who had an AT in high school rated their current AT as having more commitment, integrity, and knowledge than those who did not (P = .03-.49). Individual trust items revealed the lowest trust in not needing a second opinion (3.94 ±0.9) and highest trust involved following ATs advice (4.62 ±0.6). Males had more trust in ATs telling the truth (P = .02), but less trust in ATs doing everything for their medical care (P = .01) and keeping information private (P = .03) than females. Those with an AT in high school had less doubt about their AT caring about them (P = .002) and greater trust about medical care judgments (P = .02). Student-athletes strongly perceive constructs and highly trust their ATs. However, student-athletes that had an AT in high school reflect greater levels of ATs’ commitment, integrity and knowledge, and items of trust. ATs should consider and reflect these constructs and trust as early as possible with their student-athletes to better enhance the patient-clinician relationship and perceived care.

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