Athletic Training Services in Public Secondary Schools: A Benchmark Study

CONTEXT: Authors of the most recent study of athletic training (AT) services have suggested that only 42% of secondary schools have access to athletic trainers. However, this study was limited by a small sample size and was conducted more than 10 years ago. OBJECTIVE: To determine current AT services in public secondary schools. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Public secondary schools in the United States. PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS: A total of 8509 (57%) of 14,951 secondary schools from all 50 states and Washington, DC, responded to the survey. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Data on AT services were collected for individual states, National Athletic Trainers' Association districts, and the nation. RESULTS: Of the 8509 schools that responded, 70% (n = 5930) had AT services, including full-time (n = 3145, 37%), part-time (n = 2619, 31%), and per diem (n = 199, 2%) AT services, and 27% (n = 2299) had AT services from a hospital or physical therapy clinic. A total of 4075 of 8509 schools (48%) provided coverage at all sports practices. Eighty-six percent (2,394,284/2,787,595) of athletes had access to AT services. CONCLUSIONS: Since the last national survey, access to AT services increased such that 70% of respondent public secondary schools provided athletic trainers at sports games or practices. Approximately one-third of all public secondary schools had full-time athletic trainers. This number must increase further to provide appropriate medical coverage at athletic practices and games for secondary school athletes.