Educators' Perceptions of Characteristics That Define Athletic Training Student Competence: A Report from the Association for Athletic Training Education Research Network

• Published in: Athletic training education journal 2022-07, Vol.17 (3), p.241-249
• Main Authors: Welch Bacon, Cailee E, Cavallario, Julie M, Pike Lacy, Alicia M, Walker, Stacy E, Eberman, Lindsey E
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Athletics; Cognitive Ability; College Faculty; Competence; Job Skills; Readiness; Student Characteristics; Teacher Attitudes; Time; Trainers; Training
• ISSN: 1947-380X; 1947-380X
• DOI: 10.4085/1947-380X-21-088

Context: As health professions education continues to transition toward competency-based education, it is essential that educators have an in-depth understanding of student competence and how it is achieved. However, little is known concerning the perceptions of educators regarding student competence in athletic training. Objective: To explore athletic training educators' perceptions of student competence. Design: Cross-sectional. Setting: Online survey with open-ended questions. Patients or Other Participants: In total, 368 of 1577 athletic training educators accessed the survey (23.3% access rate); 327 were included in data analysis because they indicated they served as an athletic training educator at the time of data collection and completed at least 1 open-ended question. Respondents represented athletic training programs in 47 states, and their average age was 41.5 ± 9.4 years. Main Outcome Measure(s): We used a 10-item survey, including 5 demographic items and 5 open-ended questions to collect data. Descriptive statistics were used to characterize the demographic variables, while responses to the open-ended questions were coded by a 3-person team following the consensual qualitative research approach. To enhance trustworthiness, an external auditor confirmed the accuracy of the findings following the structured, 4-phase data analysis progression. Results: Our findings revealed that educators described the meaning of student competence in a variety of ways that ranged between lower-level cognitive learning, midlevel cognitive learning, and high-level cognitive learning. Educators further characterized student competence as being time based or student or skill based or both. Finally, educators perceived that student competence is achieved when a student is ready to practice autonomously yet shared conflicting views on the similarities or differences between student competence and student readiness. Conclusions: The views and perceptions of student competence varied among athletic training educators. To progress toward competency-based education, our findings highlight the need to establish consensus regarding student competence among educators in athletic training education.