Introduction
Certified Athletic Trainers are trained in injury prevention, evaluation, management, and rehabilitation. In 1991, Athletic Training became recognized as an allied health profession. Athletic Training Education Programs (ATEP) at the undergraduate level are accredited by the Commission of Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP).
Purpose
The purpose of this study was to assess knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of Athletic Training Students on the topic of Cultural Competency.
Rationale
Athletic Training Education Programs and other allied health professional programs need to work towards increasing the number of culturally competent practitioners when delivering healthcare services. Producing culturally competent health care providers may aid in decreasing health disparities among minority populations, as well as provide them with more proficient health care.
Methodology
The Cultural Competency among Athletic Training Students Survey contained 31 questions. The instrument consisted of ten knowledge questions, ten behavioral questions, and eleven attitudinal questions. The knowledge questions followed a multiple choice format. The behavioral and attitudinal questions were graded on a 5-point Likert scale. The behavioral questions scale ranged from 1-very uncomfortable to 5-very comfortable. The attitudinal questions ranged on a scale from 1-strongly disagree to 5-strongly agree.
Results
Cronbach alpha reliability tests revealed levels of .93 for the behavioral questions, .49 for attitudinal questions, and .29 for knowledge questions. A t-test run on the behavioral questions determined that there was a significant difference in responses among males and females on nine out of the ten questions. Scores for the knowledge questions were fairly low at thirty-seven percent. Sixty-one percent felt that they were prepared to provide culturally sensitive health care. Only twenty-six percent felt that their course work has taught them how to deal with culturally sensitive situations. However, eighty-seven percent agreed that the best way to reduce health disparities is to improve and produce culturally competent health care providers.
Conclusion
Recommendations based on the results of this study would be to include courses that integrate social and behavioral science into ATEP curricula; mandate that students attend an annual cultural competence workshop; hold a cultural competence workshop at the annual National Athletic Trainers’ Association meeting and encourage students to attend. Athletic Training students may also benefit from taking a psychology course that integrates cultural differences. However, one course relating to cultural competence is not sufficient. Cultural competency must be addressed throughout the course work within the athletic training education curriculum.