Content Validation of the Athletic Training Milestones: A Report from the Association for Athletic Training Education Research Network

Multistakeholder Perceptions of Young Professionals' Integration During Role Transition

CONTEXT

The transition to autonomous clinical practice for early professionals (EPs) has been found to be a stressful time, but no studies with multiple stakeholder groups have been completed.

OBJECTIVE

To examine the perceptions of EPs' integration during role transition from multiple stakeholder groups.

DESIGN

Qualitative study.

SETTING

Online interviews.

PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS

Seventeen EPs in the first 2 years of their first job postcertification (9 women, 8 men, age = 26 ± 5 years, experience = 9.5 ± 5 months), 16 supervisors and mentors of EPs (6 women, 10 men, age = 52 ± 11 years), and 10 faculty members and 8 preceptors (11 women, 7 men, age = 43 ± 10 years).

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Semistructured interviews using a validated interview guide based on the current literature were conducted. We analyzed data using consensual qualitative research principles. Multiple-analyst triangulation (n = 3), member checking, and peer review served as trustworthiness strategies.

RESULTS

We identified 4 themes that defined the integration of EPs during role transition. The integration of EPs was facilitated through role inductance and mentoring. Early professionals struggle finding balance to avoid burnout as they are new to the profession and feel obligated to exceed expectations from a coverage standpoint rather than focusing on the quality of care delivered. Finally, stakeholders suggested a timeline by which EPs become fully integrated into autonomous professional practice and understand all aspects of their role that typically takes anywhere from 1 to 3 years.

CONCLUSIONS

Early professionals benefited from appropriate graded autonomy during clinical education to develop their clinical reasoning skills, confidence, and mentoring network with past preceptors. Ongoing personal and professional support are needed during the initial few years to ease EPs' role inductance while they gain more experience and establish their clinician identity. Expectations for EPs should be reasonable to allow for the provision of quality care, adequate work-life balance, and integration into the profession without guilt.

Practices and Perceptions of Family-Centered Care: A Cross-Sectional Survey of Secondary School Athletic Trainers

Family-centered care (FCC) includes collaboration between families and healthcare providers, the creation of flexible policies, and the family taking an active role in the delivery of care. Secondary school athletic trainers provide care for underage patients in school-based health systems, making them responsible for maintaining communication with parents, guardians, and/or caregivers. This cross-sectional survey investigated the extent to which athletic trainers (n = 205) include aspects of FCC in their daily secondary school clinical practice (current practices = CP) and whether they believe that aspect of care is necessary for FCC to be provided in athletic training (perceived necessary = PN) in their everyday practice using the Family-Centered Care Questionnaire-Revised tool. The total mean score for the CP scale (mean = 26.83 ± 4.36) was significantly lower (p ≤ 0.01) than the PN scale (mean = 35.33 ± 4.17). All FCC subscales compared between CP and PN were significantly different (p ≤ 0.01), with each being of higher importance than CP in athletic training. Data analysis revealed four themes related to enhancing FCC in secondary schools: limited education and resources, staffing and space concerns, non-technical skills, and social determinants of health. Attention should be placed on developing resources and interventions for secondary school athletic trainers to collaboratively work with children and their support systems.