Athletic Training Students' Perceptions of Preceptors and Clinical Rotations

1. Athletic Training
Students’ Perceptions of
Preceptors and Clinical
Rotations
Courtney McCormick, ATC

2. Key Terms
• Preceptor: certified athletic trainer and clinical
instructor
• Clinical Rotation: learning environment to which a
student is assigned for a semester
• Athletic Training Student (ATS): any student enrolled
in an athletic training program

3. Problem
• Motivation of Athletic Training Students
• Retention/Attrition
• Lack of quality clinical experiences
• Preceptor role confusion

4. Purpose
• Examine if preceptors at University X are meeting
the needs of athletic training students

5. Let’s Find Out…
• Are there differences
between male and
female perceptions of
preceptors?
• Hypothesis: preceptor
attitudes and actions
positively predict
teaching ability and
attitudes.
• Is there an association
between
o professional attitudes and
actions and teaching?
o professional attitudes and
actions and communication
skills?
o professional attitudes and
actions and clinical site
experience?
o communication skills and
teaching ability and attitudes?
o communication skills and
clinical site experience?
o teaching ability and attitudes
and clinical site experience?

6. Methods
• 51 Athletic Training Students previously or currently
enrolled in the Athletic Training Program at the
University X
• Program Level 1, 2, and 3
• University X Athletic Training Education Program
Evaluation of Preceptors/Clinical Site Midterm and
Final Evaluations from the 2012 calendar year
(Winter 2012, Fall 2012)

7. Results: Perceptions of Males vs. Females

8. Ability

9. Results: The associations

10. So now what?
• More research is needed in the area of preceptor
communication skills, teaching abilities, and
leadership styles
• Need to have students define “what is a
meaningful/worthwhile/successful clinical
experience”?
• Compare preceptors to classroom educators

11. References
Curtis, N., Helion, J., Domsohn, M. (1998). Student
Athletic Trainer Perceptions of Clinical Supervisor
Behaviors: A Critical Incident Study. Journal of
Athletic Training, 33(3), 249-253.
Meyer, L. (2002). Athletic Training Clinical Instructors as
Situational Leaders. Journal of Athletic Trainng, 37(4
Supplement), 261-265.
Pitney, W., Ehlers, G. (2004). A Grounded Theory Study
of the Mentoring Process Involved With
Undergraduate Athletic Training Students. Journal of
Athletic Training, 39(4), 344-351.