Collegiate Athletic Trainers' Knowledge and Perceptions of Disordered Eating Behaviors in Athletes

Abstract

To assess athletic trainers' perceptions and knowledge regarding disordered eating behaviors and to estimate their confidence in response to a test of knowledge, a cross-sectional mail survey was distributed to a national random sample of 500 athletic trainers from the National Collegiate Athletic Association and National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics. 408 collegiate certified athletic trainers responded (rate of 81.6%). A 30-item questionnaire assessed perceptions of disordered eating behaviors within 5 domains. Opinions regarding the prevalence of disordered eating, athletic injury and nutritional status, and their role in recognizing disordered eating were assessed. Most respondents reported perceiving disordered eating to be a significant problem. Also, athletic trainers needed knowledge in all domains of disordered eating.

Gender Differences in Eating Disorder Risk among NCAA Division I Cross Country and Track Student-Athletes

“…Additionally, athletic trainers—i.e., the members of the sports medicine team with the closest contact with the athletes—are not adequately equipped to identify eating disorders without the assistance of these screens. A recent study showed that only 68.1% of certified athletic trainers for colleges had ever attended an education program on disordered eating, and of these, only 28% had done so within the year [25]. A fundamental problem lies in the fact that athletic trainers do not feel as though they receive enough education on working with athletes with eating disorders [26].…”

Knowledge of Eating Disorders among Collegiate Administrators, Coaches, and Auxiliary Dancers

“…Turks, et al reported that 44% of their coaches previously attended an eating disorder program compared to coaches in this study (40.9%). Thompson, Yingling, Boardley, and rocks (2007) utilized the same survey in athletic trainers; 67% scored above 80% compared to 14.6% of current participants. lack of knowledge is a concern because administrators set policy and procedure and then monitor its implementation by coaches.…”

Perceptions of Athletic Trainers as a Source of Nutritional Information among Collegiate Athletes: A Mixed-methods Approach

“…While some evidence indicates that ATs have an adequate level of nutrition knowledge, (Shifflett et al, 2002;Smith-Rockwell, 2001;Torres-McGehee et al, 2012) other data suggest they feel inadequately prepared and equipped to counsel athletes about nutritional issues and identify athletes with disordered eating behaviors for referral. (Bonci et al, 2008;Thompson et al, 2007;Whitson et al, 2006). The interaction between 1) nutrition knowledge and perceived competence of ATs and 2) athletes' perception of their ATs' nutrition knowledge and competence may be an important predictor of whether college athletes choose to utilize these important members of their health care team for nutrition information.…”

“…Conversely, the most frequently cited barrier athletes reported within our focus groups was feeling uncomfortable asking questions about nutrition, which mirrors the discomfort that has been previously reported within samples of ATs in dealing with some nutritional issues. (Bonci et al, 2008;Thompson et al, 2007;Whitson et al, 2006) It is possible that, although inadvertently, the discomfort experienced by an AT with addressing some nutritional issues is perceived by the athletes within their care, resulting in athlete discomfort and a perception that their AT does not have time to talk with them and does not care about their nutritional status. Unfortunately, we were unable to locate any previous reports commenting on whether ATs identify with any of the other barriers the athletes within our sample reported.…”

“…Flourishing Creativity & Literacy management and body composition, disordered eating and eating disorders, performance enhancing and recreational supplements and drugs, and prevention and health promotion. Unfortunately, previous research has indicated that, in general, ATs do not feel adequately equipped and confident in their ability to effectively handle the gamut of nutritional issues they are presented with as a practitioner, (Bonci et al, 2008;Thompson, Yingling, Boardley, & Rocks, 2007;Whitson, Cordova, Demchak, Stemmans, & King, 2006) potentially affecting athletes' health and injury risk.…”