Coaches' perceptions of the quality of care provided by athletic trainers.

BACKGROUND: The coach's perception of the quality of care provided by the athletic trainer (AT) is essential in providing the best care for the athlete given the coaches' influential role on the sports medicine team. The purpose of this study was to examine National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) coaches' perceptions of the quality of care provided by the athletic trainer (AT).

METHODS: A survey was used to assess NCAA coaches' perceptions in both 1998 and 2016 in order to provide an analysis of change over time.

RESULTS: A total of 261 NCAA coaches (129 in 1998 and 132 in 2016) participated. There was a significant difference between the perception scores of coaches from high-profile sports (74.9±13.6) and low-profile sports (72.0±13.2; p=0.01) and between coaches surveyed in 1998 (75.9±11.7) and 2016 (70.2±14.3; p<0.01). However, there was no significant difference between the perception scores of coaches from Division I (74.3±13.3), II (70.1±13.9), or III (74.2±12.7; p=0.11) institutions.

CONCLUSIONS: The perceptions of coaches from high-profile sports are greater than those from low-profile sports. The perceptions of coaches surveyed in 1998 are greater than those surveyed in 2016. The factors that appear to influence the perceptions of coaches include equality for all athletes regardless of sport, adequate staffing of the athletic training room, and effective communication between the coach and AT.