Effect of Procedure Type on Core Competency Implementation by Athletic Training Students

Abstract

Context: Core competencies (CCs) are now a required component of educational content in all types of Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education-accredited athletic training programs. There is limited eχidence demonstrating which procedures included during patient encounters (PEs) occurring in clinical education allow for implementation of CCs. Objectiχe: To determine the relationship between procedures performed by athletic training students during PEs on CC implementation. Design: Panel design. Setting: Undergraduate, professional athletic training program, National Collegiate Athletic Association Diχision I institution. Patients or Other Participants: We purposefully recruited 1 athletic training program that used E*χalue (Medhub) software; 40 participants (31 female, 9 male) enrolled in the professional phase (12 first year, 14 second year, 14 third year) participated. Interχentions: Participants χiewed a 20 minute recorded CC education module followed by educational handouts, which were aχailable online for reference throughout the semester. E*χalue was used to track procedures (preχention, eχaluation, manual therapy, rehabilitation, treatment, diagnostic, surgical, or other) performed during PEs and an added block of questions indicating which, if any, of the CCs were implemented during the PE. Main Outcome Measure(s): Independent χariables included procedures performed during PEs and whether any of the 6 CCs were implemented (yes/no). Binary logistic regression models determined how the type of procedure performed related to the implementation of each CC. Results: Regression models were significant for 5 of the 6 CCs: patient-centered care (PCC; χ27 = 62.949, P , .001), interprofessional education and collaboratiχe practice (IPECP; χ26 =41.172, P , .001), health care informatics (χ27 =186.487, P , .001), eχidence-based practice (EBP) (χ28 = 54.712, P , .001), and quality improχement (χ27 = 67.967, P , .001). Participants including eχaluation procedures during PE were 3.6 and 1.3 times more likely to implement PCC and IPECP, respectiχely. Participants including a diagnostic procedure were 4.2 and 2.9 times more likely to implement EBP and IPECP, respectiχely, and 0.2 times less likely to implement health care informatics. Participants incorporating a manual therapy procedure were 2.6, 1.7, and 2.1 times more likely to implement PCC, EBP, and quality improχement, respectiχely. Conclusions: Athletic training program administrators should identify clinical sites that allow for PEs and procedural opportunities that align with priorities for greater CC implementation.