Athletic Training Preceptors' Levels of Cultural Competence: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Context: The field of athletic training promotes cultural competence education to prevent negative consequences in health care that can result from a lack of cultural awareness. While prior studies have assessed cultural competence among faculty, students, and athletic trainers, no study has specifically focused on preceptors. Objective: The objective of this study was to assess cultural competence among a subsection of athletic training preceptors. Design and Setting: Cross-sectional online survey. Patients or Other Participants: Active preceptors from Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE) accredited programs in good standing from two districts of the National Athletic Trainer's Association. Measurements: The Cultural Competency Assessment (CCA) consists of 27 Likert-type response items split into the Culture Awareness and Sensitivity (CAS) subscale and the Cultural Competence Behaviors (CCB) subscale. Higher scores indicate higher cultural competence. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data. Results: Sixty-five preceptors of the estimated 260 were included in the analysis. The combined average score on the CCA was 89.72 ± 11.46 out of 135 (67.9%). A paired-samples t- test revealed that preceptors scored significantly better in the CAS compared to the CCB [t(64) = 12.47, P < 0.001], with averages of 37.27 ± 3.47 out of 55 (67.77%) and 52.44 ± 10.08 out of 80 (65.5%), respectively. Conclusions: This study provides data on athletic training preceptor's awareness and behaviors relative to cultural competence. Results demonstrate a need to further develop cultural competence among preceptors. The role of a preceptor has been shown to have a great influence on student development and retention in the profession. Preceptors should be considered as another source of knowledge of cultural competence.