Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Thesis Format

Monograph

Degree

Master of Science

Program

Health and Rehabilitation Sciences

Supervisor

Thornton, Jane S.

2nd Supervisor

Kirkwood, Kenneth

Co-Supervisor

Abstract

Little is known about the current state of clinical care that Masters Athletes (MAs) receive, their perceptions, and whether they meet their health needs. A 22-item online health needs assessment (HNA) survey was conducted to investigate the characteristics of clinical care received by MAs and determine their perceived health needs. 80 MAs completed our survey. In assessing three key categories of care, less than 40% of MAs reported receiving Pre-Participation Evaluation (PPE), Medical Monitoring, and Injury Management as part of their standard routine care. Dissatisfied MAs reported unmet needs due to a lack of educated clinicians, lack of accessibility to resources, poor clinician attitudes and limited support. MAs perceived health needs were cited to be education for their clinicians, increased accessibility to resources, individualized care, improved clinician attitudes, collaborative care, and frequent health assessments and preventive strategies. These findings identify and priorities factors to improve future clinical care in MAs.

Summary for Lay Audience

Masters athletes (MAs), also known as older athletes aged 35 and up, continuously train and engage in athletic competitions in greater numbers every year. Due to their age, MAs face distinct health risks and injury patterns during sports participation that are uniquely different from younger athletes. Therefore, to support their sustained participation in sport without injuries and health risks, it is important that the clinical care directed at MAs be tailored to their aging bodies. This study seeks to investigate the current clinical care that MAs receive and identify if they have any unmet needs. Eighty MAs in various organizations in London, Ontario participated our online survey that assessed the characteristics of clinical care they received, their level of satisfaction and perceptions of said care. In assessing three key categories of care, Pre-Participation Evaluation, Medical Monitoring, and Injury Management, results revealed that less than 40% of MAs reported receiving these standard clinical care services, and that most MAs have unmet health needs. Dissatisfaction with their clinical care that were perceived to contribute to these unmet needs were revealed to be 1) a lack of educated clinicians on MAs, 2) lack of accessibility to resources, 3) poor clinician attitudes and 4) limited support for MAs. To potentially address these barriers, MAs expressed wanting more education for their clinicians, increased accessibility, and availability to resources, using an individualized approach for their care, improving clinician attitudes, prompting more collaborative care, and implementing more health assessments and preventive strategies. Results of this study can help develop standard clinical guidelines tailored to meet the needs for MAs and improve their quality of care for healthy and injury free sport participation.

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