%0 Journal Article
%T Effects of athletic trainer direct employment on the management of sports-related injuries in high school athletes
%J Curēus
%D 2022
%A Vomer, Rock P. 2nd
%A York, Emma
%A Kalkbrenner, Michael T.
%A Kershaw, Zachary
%A Seemann, LaRae L.
%A Pujalte, George G. A.
%V 14
%N 12
%P e32995-e32995
%X BACKGROUND: Hiring athletic trainers (ATs) in high schools has attracted rising interest as a potential way of improving adolescents' health by enhancing their safety and reducing their risk of injury. <br><br>OBJECTIVE: This study aims to determine if there is a difference in the referral patterns, injury diagnoses, and injury treatments performed at a metropolitan high school when an AT is employed versus not employed by the school. <br><br>DESIGN: This is a retrospective quantitative two-period study. SETTING: The study was conducted in the high school athletic department in Norfolk, Virginia, and the study population was high school athletes (age 14-18). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Changes in referral patterns, injury diagnoses, and injury treatments performed at a local high school when an AT is employed versus not employed by the school; specifically, we examined the number of and percent changes in yearly treatments, referrals, evaluations, and re-evaluations during the two periods. <br><br>RESULTS: Our first t-test revealed a statistically significant increase in the number of reported injuries between 2011-2015 (M = 58.00, SD = 44.86) and 2016-2020 (M = 299.00, SD = 40.93, p = 0.006. The second t-test revealed a statistically significant increase in the number of referrals between 2011-2015 (M = 249.00, SD = 353.41) and 2016-2020 (M = 1188.00, SD = 158.21), p = 0.014. The third t-test revealed a statistically significant increase in the number of treatment items between 2011-2015 (M = 150.67, SD = 175.32) and 2016-2020 (M = 636.67, SD = 211.72), p = 0.01. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: The present study found an increased frequency of reported injuries, referrals, and treatment after ATs directly joined the staff of a large metropolitan high school. These findings suggest that direct employment of ATs is associated with greater recording of injuries and treatment of conditions. A reduction in referrals occurs with the presence of directly employed ATs, which could result in improved health for student-athletes, but this needs further study.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>
%G en
%I Curēus
%@ 2168-8184
%U http://dx.doi.org/10.7759/cureus.32995