title: Athletes' perceptions of National Collegiate Athletic Association-mandated sickle cell trait screening: insight for academic institutions and college health professionals.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The study objective was to explore athletes' perspectives of National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)-mandated sickle cell trait (SCT)-screening policy by examining race- and gender-related differences in athletes' perceptions regarding risk of having SCT and concern about loss of playing time.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants were 259 athletes at a southeastern United States campus during April-August of 2010.
  
  
  METHODS
  Athletes completed a 21-question survey.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The majority of athletes (81.7%) perceived that they would have a high level of concern if found to carry the SCT. African Americans were 9.07 times more likely than Caucasians to perceive risk of having the SCT. The majority of athletes disagreed (38.4%) or did not know (50.8%) if they would lose playing time related to carrying the SCT.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Campus health professionals must be aware of athletes' perspectives on NCAA's SCT screening so that athletes are not unnecessarily subjected to stress or harm.
authors.affiliation: a Jiann Ping Hsu College of Public Health, Georgia Southern University , Statesboro , Georgia.
authors.forename: Raymona H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Lawrence
authors.forename: Gulzar H
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Shah
mesh_terms: D000047:Academies and Institutes / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D056352:Athletes / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010465:Perception; D012307:Risk Factors; D012805:Sickle Cell Trait / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D015144:Southeastern United States; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA); athletes’ perspectives; discrimination; sickle cell trait