Formal and informal continuing education activities and athletic training professional practice.
BACKGROUND
Continuing education (CE) is intended to promote professional growth and, ultimately, to enhance professional practice.


OBJECTIVE
To determine certified athletic trainers' participation in formal (ie, approved for CE credit) and informal (ie, not approved for CE credit) CE activities and the perceived effect these activities have on professional practice with regard to improving knowledge, clinical skills and abilities, attitudes toward patient care, and patient care itself.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study.


METHODS
Athletic training practice settings.


METHODS
Of a geographic, stratified random sample of 1000 athletic trainers, 427 (42.7%) completed the survey.


METHODS
The Survey of Formal and Informal Athletic Training Continuing Education Activities was developed and administered electronically. The survey consisted of demographic characteristics and Likert-scale items regarding CE participation and perceived effect of CE on professional practice. Internal consistency of survey items was determined using the Cronbach alpha (alpha = 0.945). Descriptive statistics were computed for all items. An analysis of variance and dependent t tests were calculated to determine differences among respondents' demographic characteristics and their participation in, and perceived effect of, CE activities. The alpha level was set at .05.


RESULTS
Respondents completed more informal CE activities than formal CE activities. Participation in informal CE activities included reading athletic training journals (75.4%), whereas formal CE activities included attending a Board of Certification-approved workshop, seminar, or professional conference not conducted by the National Athletic Trainers' Association or affiliates or committees (75.6%). Informal CE activities were perceived to improve clinical skills or abilities and attitudes toward patient care. Formal CE activities were perceived to enhance knowledge.


CONCLUSIONS
More respondents completed informal CE activities than formal CE activities. Both formal and informal CE activities were perceived to enhance athletic training professional practice. Informal CE activities should be explored and considered for CE credit.
Armstrong
Kirk J
KJ
Department of Kinesiology, Georgia College & State University, Campus Box 112, Milledgeville, GA 31061, USA. kirk.armstrong@gcsu.edu
Weidner
Thomas G
TG
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003625:Data Collection; D004496:Education, Continuing; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D005791:Patient Care / Q000592:standards; D010465:Perception; D011361:Professional Competence / Q000592:standards*; D011364:Professional Practice; D013178:Sports Medicine / Q000193:education*; D013192:Staff Development; D014481:United States
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