Athletic Trainers’ Shared Professional Values: A Report From the National Athletic Trainers’ Association Professional Responsibility in Athletic Training Committee

Abstract

Context: Professional values (PVs) of health care providers influence their professional decisions and behaviors. Athletic training is one of the remaining health professions without established shared PVs. Commitment to shared PVs, also known as core values, prompts good and right behavior by guiding moral and ethical judgment and professional decision-making. Objective: To identify shared PVs in athletic training that enable the use of a values orientation, which facilitates adherence to legal, ethical, regulatory, and professional standards. Design: Cross-sectional survey study. Setting: Web-based surveys. Patients or Other Participants: The Athletic Training Strategic Alliance leadership (n ¼ 61/95), National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA) membership (n ¼ 4837/35 279), and NATA committee members (n ¼ 277/423). Main Outcome Measure(s): Our research consisted of 3 studies, each using a web-based survey to identify shared PVs, as well as a definition and sample behaviors for each PV. Results: Using a 3-tiered systematic and inclusive process, we identified caring and compassion, integrity, respect, competence, and accountability as the shared PVs among athletic trainers. Definitions and 3 sample behaviors have also been provided and endorsed for each of the 5 shared PVs. Conclusions: With the establishment of these shared PVs and their recent addition to the NATA Code of Ethics, athletic trainers can immediately incorporate a values orientation into their professional practices.