Racial Microaggressions During Clinical Education Experiences of Professional Master's Athletic Training Students

Abstract

Context Racial microaggressions can be comments or actions that are often unconsciously or unintentionally directed toward members of marginalized groups. Athletic trainers have been found to be prone to organizational conflict and harassment; however, no studies have investigated whether racial microaggressions occur during athletic training student (ATS) clinical education experiences. Objective To examine the existence of racial microaggressions directed toward ATSs during clinical education, specifically identifying the resources that existed for students who perceived they were encountering racial microaggressions. Design Qualitative study. Setting Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education–accredited professional master's programs. Patients or Other Participants One hundred fifteen second-year master's students (80 female, 33 male, 1 nonbinary/third gender, 1 wished to not disclose; age = 23.67 ± 3.41 years). Data Collection and Analysis We created a questionnaire based on the purpose of the study and the current literature that we validated via peer and expert review before initiation of the study. We used peer review and multiple-analyst triangulation to provide credibility and analyzed the data with a phenomenological qualitative approach. Results Three main themes emerged: (1) participants experienced forms of microaggression including, but not limited to, microassaults, microinsults, microinvalidations, and stereotypes; (2) participants experienced a lack of action after racial microaggressions; and (3) participants experienced a period of career reconsideration during which they questioned entering the profession because of feeling uncomfortable and discriminated against. Conclusions To reduce the number of racial microaggressions that students face, athletic training education program administrators and preceptors should be educated on racial microaggressions, validate athletic training student emotions, encourage brave spaces where students can openly communicate about what is transpiring at clinical sites, safely identify aggressors, and remove students from harmful environments.