(50) PERCEIVED TRAINING NEEDS FOR P-12 EDUCATORS TO IDENTIFY COMMON PHYSICAL-ACTIVITY-RELATED INJURIES IN STUDENTS

Purpose: P-12 educators – not serving in coaching roles – are not required to develop knowledge or skills related to their ability to identify common physical-activity related injuries. However, educators have the opportunity to serve a critical role in youth safety during class time or informal recess/play. The purpose of this study was to describe P-12 educator’s perceived needs for training in signs, symptoms, and treatment for concussions, dehydration, and overuse injuries to improve their recognition, response, and prevention of common physical-activity related injuries.

Methods: An electronic survey was developed and sent to a nation-wide sample of P-12 educators. The participants were asked to indicate their perceived needs for training as it relates to common physical-activity-related injuries and identify additional health and safety topics they believe to be relevant and necessary in their role as educators. Responses are reported as percentages.

Results: In total, 1,959 responses were collected. The respondents were 91% female (n = 1,775; 9% male, n = 184), aged 49 ± 18 y (range 18 – 81 y), and 40% had earned an advanced college degree (35% earned a bachelor’s, 19% some college, and 6% no college). Additionally, participants’ school role or grade demographics were pre-kindergarten/kindergarten n = 661, 1^st-5^th grades n = 1,343, 6^th-8^th grades n = 664, 9^th-12^th grades n = 464, and administrative/staff n = 491. The two highest-ranked additional health and safety topics included stress (n = 1,246) and violence (n = 827). For overuse injuries, 66% (n = 1,296) reported wanting more education on treatment, 64% (n = 1,263) wanted more education on signs, and 63% (n = 1,243) wanted more education on symptoms. For concussions, 59% (n = 1,151) reported wanting more education on treatment, 49% (n = 952) wanted more education on signs, and 46% (n = 893) wanted more education on symptoms. For dehydration, 40% (n = 784) reported wanting more education on treatment, 38% (n = 744) wanted more education on signs, and 38% (n = 738) wanted more education on symptoms.

Conclusion: P-12 educators recognize an opportunity to improve their knowledge, skills, and abilities in identifying common physical-activity-related injuries in their students. Of note, in addition to overuse injuries, concussions, and dehydration, the participants identified stress and violence as areas they would like more training and support. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Safety training – as it relates to common physical-activity-related injuries or conditions experienced by youth athletes – should not be limited to only coaching staff and physical education teachers. Given the role P-12 schools play in the lives of youth in the United States, quality training for all of the faculty and staff can help improve youth safety when provided with the appropriate knowledge and resources.

Acknowledgements: None