Clinical integration and how it affects student retention in undergraduate athletic training programs

Area of Science:

• Sports Medicine
• Allied Health Education
• Higher Education

Background:

• Understanding student attrition and persistence in undergraduate athletic training education programs (ATEPs) is crucial for the profession's future.
• Clinical experiences significantly impact student retention within ATEPs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the influence of clinical experiences on student retention in undergraduate athletic training education programs.
• To identify factors contributing to student persistence and attrition in ATEPs.

Main Methods:

• A mixed-methods approach combining quantitative and qualitative data from survey research.
• Data collected from 71 persistent students and 23 students who left three-year undergraduate ATEPs.
• Quantitative data analyzed using multivariate and univariate analyses of variance; qualitative data analyzed via inductive content analysis.

Main Results:

• Significant differences were found between students who persisted and those who dropped out of ATEPs (Pillai trace = 0.42, F(1,92) = 12.95, P = .01).
• Persisters and dropouts differed significantly on anticipatory factors (P = .04), clinical integration (P = .01), and motivation (P = .01).
• Qualitative themes included support networks, authentic experiential learning, role identity, time commitment, and career changes.

Conclusions:

• A notable difference exists in how athletic training students engage with clinical experiences, impacting retention.
• Enhancing retention may involve prioritizing authentic experiential learning over mere hours logged.
• Facilitating student responsibility and support networks within clinical settings can improve ATEP persistence.