Formal and informal continuing education activities and athletic training professional practice

Area of Science:

• Sports Medicine
• Professional Development
• Athletic Training Education

Background:

• Continuing education (CE) is crucial for professional growth and enhancing practice in athletic training.
• Understanding the types and perceived impact of CE is vital for optimizing professional development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess certified athletic trainers' participation in formal and informal CE activities.
• To evaluate the perceived effects of these CE activities on knowledge, clinical skills, attitudes, and patient care.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study surveyed 427 athletic trainers from a stratified random sample.
• The Survey of Formal and Informal Athletic Training Continuing Education Activities assessed CE participation and perceived impact.
• Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, ANOVA, and dependent t tests (alpha = .05).

Main Results:

• Respondents participated more in informal CE (e.g., reading journals, 75.4%) than formal CE (e.g., workshops, 75.6%).
• Informal CE was perceived to improve clinical skills/abilities and attitudes toward patient care.
• Formal CE was perceived to enhance professional knowledge.

Conclusions:

• Certified athletic trainers engage in more informal CE activities than formal CE activities.
• Both formal and informal CE are perceived to enhance athletic training professional practice.
• Informal CE activities warrant further exploration and consideration for CE credit eligibility.