Date of Graduation
1996
Document Type
Dissertation/Thesis
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to investigate gender equity in medical coverage and injury prevention of basketball programs at NCAA Division I colleges and universities. The population for this study were 100 randomly sampled head athletic trainers at NCAA Division I colleges and universities that compete in both men's and women's basketball. Each participant was mailed a survey packet containing a cover letter and a questionnaire. The total return rate was 69%. The data were analyzed using the Statistical Analysis Systems. Analyses of Variance, Chi-Square, frequency distributions, and Duncan's Multiple Range Tests were used to answer the two research questions. An alpha level of.05 was used to determine significance. Analyses of the data resulted in significant differences being found in 4 of the 5 dependent variables tested: medical personnel and assistance, athletic trainers, weight and training facilities, and conditioning facilities and equipment. For the interaction of gender and health, accident, and injury insurance coverage, no significant differences were found. Specifically, analyses discovered a strong correlation between gender and the provision of medical coverage. Significant differences were found which indicated the men's basketball program was afforded better medical care, including more extensive physician and EMS coverage at home and away games, as compared to the women's basketball program. Moreover, a strong correlation between gender and the provision of injury prevention practices was discovered. Significant differences were found which indicated the men's basketball program had more frequent access to weight and training facilities and conditioning facilities and equipment, when compared to the women's basketball program. This study will add to the paucity of research on issues of gender equity regarding the medical coverage and injury prevention practices of female intercollegiate athletes. Furthermore, the results of this study establish baseline data concerning the inequity of medical coverage and injury prevention practices that currently exists at NCAA Division I colleges and universities for their men's and women's basketball programs.
Recommended Citation
Beckett, Joseph Alan, "An investigation of gender equity in the medical coverage and injury prevention of basketball programs as identified by head athletic trainers at NCAA Division I colleges and universities." (1996). Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports. 8459.
https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/etd/8459