title: A national survey of clubs medical personnel, facilities and protocols in Irish Rugby Union.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Rugby Union is one of the most popular sports in Ireland. Participation in all sports carries risk, and there is an onus on governing bodies and those involved in sport to minimise this risk using injury prevention and management programmes.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the current status of medical personnel, facilities and equipment in Rugby Union clubs in Ireland.
  
  
  METHODS
  A nationwide cross sectional survey of affiliated clubs in Ireland was undertaken at the beginning of the 2011-2012. Clubs were surveyed on a range of variables including their medical personnel, facilities, equipment, policies and concussion.
  
  
  RESULTS
  47.7 % of those surveyed responded. The majority reported involvement of appropriate medically qualified personnel, having a dedicated medical area/room, a first aid kit and defibrillator, and a demand for first aid courses.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This survey provided key information on the current medical status of clubs in Ireland to the governing body. Many clubs have adequate medical resources in place, however a large number do not have medical professionals working with them or own basic medical equipment. The results of this study have lead to the development and implementation of a rugby specific injury prevention and management programme for medical and non-medical personnel at all levels of the game in Ireland.
authors.affiliation: Medical Department, Irish Rugby Football Union, 10-12 Lansdowne Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4, Ireland, garrett.coughlan@irfu.ie.
authors.forename: G F
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Coughlan
authors.forename: B M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Fullen
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: McCarthy
mesh_terms: D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D047548:Defibrillators; D005160:Facility Design and Construction; D005392:First Aid / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000592:standards; D005538:Football / Q000293:injuries*; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000592:standards; D006291:Health Policy; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D007494:Ireland; D018570:Risk Assessment; D013178:Sports Medicine / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000592:standards; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires