Educators' Perceptions of Characteristics That Define Athletic Training Student Competence: A Report From the Association for Athletic Training Education Research Network

Abstract

Context As health professions education continues to transition toward competency-based education, it is essential that educators have an in-depth understanding of student competence and how it is achieved. However, little is known concerning the perceptions of educators regarding student competence in athletic training. Objective To explore athletic training educators' perceptions of student competence. Design Cross-sectional. Setting Online survey with open-ended questions. Patients or Other Participants In total, 368 of 1577 athletic training educators accessed the survey (23.3% access rate); 327 were included in data analysis because they indicated they served as an athletic training educator at the time of data collection and completed at least 1 open-ended question. Respondents represented athletic training programs in 47 states, and their average age was 41.5 ± 9.4 years. Main Outcome Measure(s) We used a 10-item survey, including 5 demographic items and 5 open-ended questions to collect data. Descriptive statistics were used to characterize the demographic variables, while responses to the open-ended questions were coded by a 3-person team following the consensual qualitative research approach. To enhance trustworthiness, an external auditor confirmed the accuracy of the findings following the structured, 4-phase data analysis progression. Results Our findings revealed that educators described the meaning of student competence in a variety of ways that ranged between lower-level cognitive learning, midlevel cognitive learning, and high-level cognitive learning. Educators further characterized student competence as being time based or student or skill based or both. Finally, educators perceived that student competence is achieved when a student is ready to practice autonomously yet shared conflicting views on the similarities or differences between student competence and student readiness. Conclusions The views and perceptions of student competence varied among athletic training educators. To progress toward competency-based education, our findings highlight the need to establish consensus regarding student competence among educators in athletic training education.