Athletic Training Preceptor Perceptions of Interprofessional Collaborative Practice in Clinical Learning Experiences

Background: Interprofessional education and collaborative practice are standards that have been added to the accreditation standards for athletic training education. Athletic training educators will need to provide interprofessional experiences to their students to remain compliant with the standards. The goal of the mixed methods study was to explore athletic training preceptors' perceptions of interprofessional education and collaborative practice in the clinical setting. Methods: A total of 34 athletic training preceptors completed the full online survey, and of those, 5 completed the semi structured interview. Participants completed an asynchronous online module and a retrospective pretest survey using the ISVS-21 about their beliefs, behaviors, and attitudes about interprofessional education and practice. Participants that volunteered were asked additional questions during a semi-structured interview. Results: The findings of this study found that the educational module was effective in increasing the beliefs, behaviors, and attitudes of athletic training preceptors with a short online module and that preceptors had positive attitudes/beliefs about IPE/IPCP, however, preceptors identified lack of education about IPE/IPCP and barriers to implementing IPE/IPCP with and without students that influenced their use of IPE/IPCP. Conclusion: Athletic training programs could educate and develop athletic training preceptors in interprofessional education and clinical practice to help develop opportunities for athletic training students in the clinical setting.