Knowledge of Complementary and Integrative Health among Collegiate Athletic Trainers

Abstract

Purpose: Complementary and integrative health (CIH) interventions are non-mainstream modalities used to complement traditional care and are used by athletic trainers. Interventions encompassing CIH can help provide holistic care that is patient-centered. However, there is no previous research on the attitudes and use of CIH in everyday clinical care. The purpose of this project is to investigate athletic trainers’ use and attitudes towards CIH interventions. Methods: A cross-sectional, web-based survey including demographics, CIH integration, and the Complementary Health Belief Questionnaire (CHBQ) was sent out to a random sample of athletic trainers. Measures of central tendency were calculated to characterize the behaviors and use of CIH by athletic trainers. The scores on the CHBQ were averaged and an independent t-test was used to compare the CHBQ scores between athletic trainers who use CIH and those who do not. Results: The average total score for the CHBQ is 43.41±4.26, indicating generally positive beliefs and attitudes towards CIH interventions. There were no statistical differences in CHBQ scores between athletic trainers who use CIH interventions and those who do not, indicating both groups have positive attitudes towards CIH intervention. Further, the most common interventions used by athletic trainers were massage, yoga, and chiropractic care. Conclusion: Many collegiate athletic trainers incorporate CIH interventions into their practice and tend to have positive attitudes towards CIH. In order to treat the whole patient, athletic trainers should consider incorporating CIH interventions into their practice in order to assist in positive patient reported outcomes.