Discrepancies in perceptions held by injured athletes and athletic trainers during the initial injury evaluation

Fifty injured athletes and six athletic trainers participated in this study, the purpose of which was to determine whether perceptions held by the athlete were similar to the perceptions of the athletic trainer during the initial evaluation. We developed a questionnaire to examine six areas: the athlete's understanding of the injury and the rehabilitation program, objective elements, the athlete's frame of reference, type of communication, short-term objectives and long-term goals, and the development of a rehabilitation strategy. A Cohen's kappa was used to determine interrater agreement/disagreement. Fifty-two percent of the athletes reported that they did not understand the rehabilitation process associated with their injury. There were significant discrepancies between the perceptions held by the athlete and the athletic trainer for items in all but one of the six areas examined-the objective elements of the evaluation. It appears that a significant level of miscommunication occurred between the athlete and the athletic trainer during the initial injury evaluation. Athletic trainers need to develop better communication skills so that athletes can gain a better understanding of their injuries and requirements for rehabilitation.