title: Organizational Infrastructure in the Collegiate Athletic Training Setting, Part III: Benefits of and Barriers in the Medical and Academic Models.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Academic and medical models are emerging as alternatives to the athletics model, which is the more predominant model in the collegiate athletic training setting. Little is known about athletic trainers' (ATs') perceptions of these models.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the perceived benefits of and barriers in the medical and academic models.
  
  
  METHODS
  Qualitative study.
  
  
  METHODS
  National Collegiate Athletic Association Divisions I, II, and III.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 16 full-time ATs (10 men, 6 women; age = 32 ± 6 years, experience = 10 ± 6 years) working in the medical (n = 8) or academic (n = 8) models.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted semistructured telephone interviews and evaluated the qualitative data using a general inductive approach. Multiple-analyst triangulation and peer review were completed to satisfy data credibility.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the medical model, role congruency and work-life balance emerged as benefits, whereas role conflict, specifically intersender conflict with coaches, was a barrier. In the academic model, role congruency emerged as a benefit, and barriers were role strain and work-life conflict. Subscales of role strain included role conflict and role ambiguity for new employees. Role conflict stemmed from intersender conflict with coaches and athletics administrative personnel and interrole conflict with fulfilling multiple overlapping roles (academic, clinical, administrative).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The infrastructure in which ATs provide medical care needs to be evaluated. We found that the medical model can support better alignment for both patient care and the wellbeing of ATs. Whereas the academic model has perceived benefits, role incongruence exists, mostly because of the role complexity associated with balancing teaching, patient-care, and administrative duties.
authors.affiliation: Department of Athletic Training and Exercise Science, Lasell College, Newton MA.
authors.forename: Christianne M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Eason
authors.affiliation: Department of Kinesiology, Athletic Training Program, University of Connecticut, Storrs.
authors.forename: Stephanie M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Mazerolle
authors.affiliation: Department of Health & Exercise Science, Appalachian State University, Boone, NC.
authors.forename: Ashley
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Goodman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D056352:Athletes / Q000193:education; D004651:Employment / Q000458:organization & administration; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008954:Models, Biological; D017145:Models, Educational; D036301:Qualitative Research; D013177:Sports / Q000193:education*; D013178:Sports Medicine / Q000458:organization & administration*; D013334:Students; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States; D014495:Universities / Q000458:organization & administration
keywords: hierarchy; patient care; role conflict