Athletic Trainers' Perceptions of Accessibility to Necessary Resources for Those Working Per Diem Services.
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ABSTRACT: Context
As the demand for athletic training services has grown, the per diem athletic training setting has expanded to fulfill this need. Per diem services are provided by athletic trainers (ATs) who are hired as independent contractors for short time periods. These service opportunities help to increase access to care for medically underserved populations; however, due to the transient nature of the work, the quality of care may be compromised.Objective
To examine current practices in per diem services and evaluate ATs' accessibility to resources.Design
Cross-sectional study.Setting
Online survey.Patients or other participants
A total of 448 participants responded (access rate = 9.57%), of whom 210 were ineligible (46.9%). Of those who were eligible, 192 participants completed the entire tool (completion rate = 80.7%, age = 38 ± 12 years, years certified = 14 ± 11, years providing per diem services = 8 ± 8).Main outcome measure(s)
The survey comprised 3 sections: (1) demographics, (2) accessibility to resources and influence on patient care, and (3) domains of athletic training while providing per diem services. Resources assessed included those that are relevant to ATs practicing in accordance with the Board of Certification "Standards of Professional Practice." The final instrument included approximately 30 questions (depending on display logic) and took an average of 12 minutes to complete.Results
Of the 11 primary resources assessed, participants had limited accessibility to 6. Critical resources related to informatics, legalities, and health care delivery were often not available, were seen as unimportant to providing medical services, or both.Conclusions
Participants indicated varied perceptions about the need for and access to these resources. Yet such resources contribute to the creation of a safe infrastructure for providing medical services and should be part of the routine dialogue regarding independent contracting.
SUBMITTER: Armstrong TA
PROVIDER: S-EPMC7863608 | biostudies-literature |
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
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