Context
The benefits of service-learning experiences have been reported throughout health care education, yet no recent empirical investigations have been made of the effect of service-learning experiences on athletic training students. Two commentaries, published over 10 years ago, promoted the benefits of and need for service-learning experiences in athletic training education, yet no studies have been published that measure the effect of service-learning in athletic training education.
Objective
To assess athletic training students’ attitudes and perceptions of community service and civic engagement after participating in a service-learning experience involving underserved populations.
Design
Quasiexperimental.
Setting
Free medical clinic in an urban location in the Midwest.
Patients or Other Participants
Twenty-eight final year undergraduate athletic training students (18 females, 10 males, 21.3 ± 0.6 years old).
Intervention(s)
Students participated in 4 hours of service-learning experience in the fall and spring semesters, for a total of 8 hours, in a free medical clinic.
Main Outcome Measure(s)
The Center for Healthy Communities Service-learning Survey (1999, with permission) was administered anonymously online (Qualtrics Inc) before and after the service-learning experience.
Results
Statistically significant changes were found in 3 of the 15 items: “I feel well prepared to practice my profession in a community similar to the community in which my placement is located” (U = 242, Z = −2.205, P = .027), “I believe students should volunteer their time helping people without resources” (U = 235.5, Z = −2.244, P = .025), and “I feel that I can have a positive impact on the community in which I work by volunteering my time” (U = 253, Z = −2.054, P = .040).
Conclusions
Athletic training programs should consider incorporating service-learning into their curriculum to enhance their students’ preparation to serve diverse patient populations and become civically engaged professionals.
