•  
  •  
 

HOW ATHLETIC TRAINERS BUILD RELATIONSHIPS AND TRUST WITH COLLEGIATE ATHLETES

Abstract

Grace E. Johnston, Eric E. Hall, FACSM, Caroline J. Ketcham. Elon University, Elon, NC.

BACKGROUND: Collegiate athletes are at risk for injury that can disrupt their in season participation. Athletic trainers can provide preventative exercises and protocols for athlete care. There appears to be an important trust factor in the relationship between athletic trainers and collegiate athletes that is implemented for athlete care. Through a series of interviews, a relationship between athletic trainer and athlete will impact athlete’s performance and injury prevention. If an athlete is untrusting to disclose pain with an athletic trainer, then the athlete will not be able to receive care for said pain. The current standard for athletic trainers is the Athletic Trainings Shared Values (ATSV): caring & compassion, integrity, respect, competence and accountability. The current research investigates the practices athletic trainers use to build relationships and trust. METHODS: We hope to recruit 100 collegiate athletic trainers to complete this survey. The first section will focus on the athletic trainer’s background and experience (i.e. years in profession, how many teams the trainer is working with at once, etc). The second section will focus on the 5 ATSV. Some sample questions include which values athletic trainers apply most frequently, view most and least important, etc. The data will be analyzed to identify structures and practices that contribute relationship building and trust. ANTICIPATED RESULTS: It is hypothesized that the results of this study will identify certain core values used more frequently and effectively in obtaining trust with an athlete. It is also expected that structural characteristics (i.e. fewer teams to work with at once) will allow the athletic trainer to have more time to build relationships. The implications of this research may highlight how strong relationships and trust building by the athletic trainer will enable an athlete to be more motivated in symptom reporting and following injury prevention and recovery recommendations.

This document is currently not available here.

Share

COinS