Recently certified athletic trainers' undergraduate educational preparation in psychosocial intervention and referral.
BACKGROUND
"Psychosocial Intervention and Referral" is one of the 12 content areas established by the National Athletic Trainers' Association Education Council and is required to be taught in athletic training education programs (ATEPs). The perceived preparation of athletic trainers (ATs) in this content area has not been evaluated.


OBJECTIVE
To explore the preparation level of recently certified ATs within the content area of "Psychosocial Intervention and Referral."


METHODS
Qualitative design involving semistructured, in-depth, focus group interviews.


METHODS
Interviews were conducted at 2 National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I institutions in 2 regions of the United States.


METHODS
A total of 11 recently certified ATs who met predetermined criteria were recruited. The ATs represented a range of undergraduate ATEPs and current employment settings.


METHODS
Focus group interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed deductively. Peer debriefing and member checks were used to ensure trustworthiness.


RESULTS
The ATEPs are doing an adequate job of preparing ATs for many common communication and interpersonal issues, but ATs report being underprepared to deal with athlete-related issues in the areas of motivation and adherence, counseling and social support, mental skills training, and psychosocial referral.


CONCLUSIONS
Limitations of undergraduate ATEPs regarding preparation of athletic training students within the "Psychosocial Intervention and Referral" content area were identified, with the goal of improving athletic training education. The more we know about the issues that entry-level ATs face, the more effectively we can structure athletic training education.
Stiller-Ostrowski
Jennifer Lynn
JL
Lasell College, Wass 8, 1844 Commonwealth Avenue, Newton, MA 02466, USA. jostrowski@lasell.edu
Ostrowski
John A
JA
D000328:Adult; D002568:Certification / Q000592:standards; D037001:Directive Counseling / Q000592:standards; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D011361:Professional Competence / Q000592:standards*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012944:Social Support; D013177:Sports / Q000523:psychology; D013178:Sports Medicine / Q000193:education* / Q000592:standards; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult