Date of Award

5-2015

Document Type

Open Access Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Kinesiology

First Advisor

Erik Lind, Ph.D.

Second Advisor

Alyson Dearie, M.S.

Third Advisor

Brian Richardson, Ph.D.

Abstract

Athletic trainers and coaches have a significant amount of interaction regarding the care of an athlete. This communication and cooperation is necessary to providing effective care. The purpose of this study was to determine the level of satisfaction that head coaches have with those providing athletic training services across all three NCAA Divisions. Overall satisfaction and four satisfaction categories (professionalism, communication, knowledge/ability, and accessibility) were examined. A total of 40 head coaches from NCAA Division I, II, and III schools participated in the study. The instrument used was originally developed by Beer (2004) and was modified to fit the current research question. The survey consisted of 45 items including demographic questions and Likert-type satisfaction statements. Survey packets were distributed at a coaches meeting, and were collected upon completion. Results showed that there were no differences for overall satisfaction scores (p ≥ 0.05) or the four satisfaction category scores among NCAA Division (all ps ≥ 0.05). Communication scores were significantly higher when comparing scores of head coaches of teams assigned a certified athletic to scores of teams not assigned an athletic trainer (p = .034). Coaches who had a full-time athletic trainer reported significantly higher scores for satisfaction in athletic trainer knowledge/ability than coaches assigned a graduate assistant (p = .004). Coaches of male teams reported significantly higher satisfaction scores for professionalism (p = .042) and overall satisfaction (p = .041) than coaches of female teams. These findings indicate that athletic trainers are providing a high quality of service regardless of competitive level and that certain dimensions of satisfaction appear more important depending on different factors. Future research should include more institutions and employ qualitative research techniques to analyze satisfaction.

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