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Knowledge of the Female Athlete Triad and Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport Among Female Cross-Country Athletes and Support Staff.


ABSTRACT:

Context

Female endurance athletes exhibit an increased risk of the female athlete triad (Triad) and relative energy deficiency in sport (RED-S). The triad and RED-S are conditions that involve the health and performance consequences of low energy availability. Few authors of studies to date have assessed the knowledge that athletes, coaches, and athletic trainers (ATs) have regarding the Triad or RED-S. Proper education has been shown to be effective in increasing knowledge of sports medicine concerns for athletes, yet no known continuing education programs for the Triad or RED-S exist at collegiate institutions.

Objective

To assess the knowledge, confidence, and educational impact of identifying, screening, treating, and preventing the Triad or RED-S.

Design

Cross-sectional study.

Setting

An evidence-based online survey was developed and administered via Qualtrics.

Patients or other participants

Female collegiate cross-country athletes (n = 275, age = 20 ± 1 years), collegiate cross-country coaches (n = 55, age = 34 ± 9 years), and ATs working with cross-country teams (n = 30, age = 36 ± 11 years).

Main outcome measure(s)

Knowledge, confidence, and educational impact scores were assessed among groups using analysis of variance. Independent t tests were calculated to determine differences in impact scores between people who had or had not received education on the topic.

Results

Female cross-country athletes' total knowledge, confidence, and educational impact scores (mean scores = 25.00 ± 5.27, 95.42 ± 28.83, and 18.81 ± 7.05, respectively) were different from those of coaches (mean scores = 26.92 ± 5.02, 111.35 ± 24.14, and 22.41 ± 6.33, respectively) and ATs (mean scores = 28.66 ± 4.02, 117.67 ± 22.53, and 23.93 ± 5.69, respectively; P < .05).

Conclusions

Knowledge, confidence, and educational impact scores regarding Triad or RED-S were lowest in female cross-country athletes and highest in ATs. These findings support the call for education, which should be regarded as the primary tool for increasing knowledge, to improve the prevention and treatment of the Triad or RED-S.

SUBMITTER: Lodge MT 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9020605 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Knowledge of the Female Athlete Triad and Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport Among Female Cross-Country Athletes and Support Staff.

Lodge Melissa T MT   Ackerman Kathryn E KE   Garay Jessica J  

Journal of athletic training 20220401 4


<h4>Context</h4>Female endurance athletes exhibit an increased risk of the female athlete triad (Triad) and relative energy deficiency in sport (RED-S). The triad and RED-S are conditions that involve the health and performance consequences of low energy availability. Few authors of studies to date have assessed the knowledge that athletes, coaches, and athletic trainers (ATs) have regarding the Triad or RED-S. Proper education has been shown to be effective in increasing knowledge of sports med  ...[more]

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