Burnout and Adverse Outcomes in Athletic Training Students: Why All Healthcare Educators Should Be Concerned

Authors

Ashlyne P. Elliott, Veterans AffairsFollow
Andrew Gallucci, Baylor UniversityFollow
Leslie Oglesby, University of Southern MississippiFollow
LesLee Funderburk, Baylor UniversityFollow
Beth A. Lanning, Baylor UniversityFollow
Sara Tomek, Baylor UniversityFollow

Abstract

Background: Burnout is linked to various adverse outcomes (i.e., thoughts of dropout, depression, unprofessional behaviors) in healthcare students (i.e., nursing students, medical students). However, potential adverse outcomes associated with burnout in athletic training students, a subset of healthcare students, have yet to be identified. Objective: To adapt a previously tested theoretical model to explore relationships between student workload, burnout, and potential adverse outcomes in a sample of graduate athletic training students. Methods: An online survey assessing the variables of interest and study information was sent to program directors of graduate-level athletic training programs at their publicly accessible email addresses with a request to forward the opportunity to their students. This was a nationwide sample of graduate athletic training students with 320 graduate athletic training students completing the survey. Descriptive statistics and structural equation modeling was used in our analysis. Results: Structural equation modeling confirmed that our hypothesized model successfully described relationships between academic workload, burnout, and adverse outcomes in athletic training students. Specifically, academic workload predicted burnout, and burnout in turn predicted various adverse outcomes (i.e., thoughts of dropout, depression, unprofessional behaviors) in athletic training students. Educators should be aware of the potential adverse outcomes identified in this sample of athletic training students that have also been reported in other healthcare students. Conclusions: Methods to combat symptoms of burnout to enhance student well-being and avoid potential adverse outcomes should be identified. Future research should use the adapted theoretical model discussed in this article within other healthcare students' samples to understand further the complex network of relationships between academic workload, burnout, and adverse outcomes in the educational environment.

Author Bio(s)

Ashlyne P. Elliott, Ph.D., LAT, ATC is a Advanced Postdoctoral Fellow in Health Professions Education Evaluation and Research at the Centers for Effectiveness, Quality, and Safety in Houston, TX.

Andrew R. Gallucci, Ph.D., LAT, ATC, CSCS is a Associate Professor within the Robbins College of Health and Human Sciences at Baylor University in Waco, TX.

Leslie W. Oglesby, Ph.D., LAT, ATC is a Assistant Professor in the School of Health Professions at the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg, MS.

LesLee K. Funderburk, Ph.D., RD, CSSD, CSCS is a Assistant Professor in Nutrition Sciences within the Robbins College of Health and Human Sciences at Baylor University in Waco, TX.

Beth A. Lanning, Ph.D., MCHES, is the Associate Chair of Public Health within the Robbins College of Health and Human Sciences at Baylor University in Waco, TX.

Sara Tomek, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor in Quantitative Methods within the School of Education at Baylor University in Waco, TX.

DOI

10.46743/1540-580X/2023.2264

Recommended Citation

Elliott AP, Gallucci A, Oglesby L, Funderburk L, Lanning BA, Tomek S. Burnout and Adverse Outcomes in Athletic Training Students: Why All Healthcare Educators Should Be Concerned. The Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice. 2023 Jan 04;21(1), Article 16.