394 Barriers and facilitators for developing mandated school athletics emergency action plans. (3rd March 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Johnson, Samuel; Bovbjerg, Viktor; Koester, Michael; Gehring, Kylee; Marques, Mackenzie; Norcross, Marc
• Is Part Of: British journal of sports medicine. Volume 54(2020)Supplement 1
• Page Start: A160
• Page End: A160
• Publication Date: 2020-03-03
• Subjects: Sports medicine -- Periodicals; 617.1027
• DOI: 10.1136/bjsports-2020-IOCAbstracts.394
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0306-3674

Abstract

Abstract : Background: An emergency action plan (EAP) guides care during sports-related emergencies. Given the importance of the EAP, more sports governing bodies are mandating them; including a requirement that Oregon (USA) high schools have one. However, it is unknown what factors helped and hindered EAP development in these schools. Objective: Describe the barriers and facilitators to school athletics EAP development. Design: Cross-sectional. Setting: High school. Patients (or Participants): Athletic directors (ADs) at all Oregon high schools were invited to participate (n=285) with 67 (24%) completing the study. Interventions (or assessment of risk factors): Online survey that assessed ADs attitudes surrounding EAP development. Main outcome measurements: The proportion (95% confidence intervals) of ADs who reported having an EAP and selected barriers and facilitators to EAP development. Results: Nearly all of the schools, 99% (92–100%), reported having an EAP. Fifty-two percent (40–65%) of ADs reported no challenges in developing the EAP. Of ADs noting challenges, 63% (44–79%) reported a lack of personnel trained in EAP development and 41% (24–59%) said a lack of perceived need for the EAP were barriers. Other challenges were noted by 19% (7–36%) of the ADs, half of which were related to a perceived lack of time to develop the EAP. Of the schools with an EAP, 94% (85–98%) reported at least one facilitator. Among those ADs, 68% (55–79%) noted the mandate, 60% (46–72%) reported having trained personnel, and 53% (40–66%) said templates were helpful. Only 3% (0–11%), reported other facilitators, which included local safety officials and the internet. Conclusions: Sports governing bodies must emphasize the importance of EAPs to ensure an appropriate response to sports-related emergencies and should consider mandating EAPs. If mandated, templates should be provided to assist the teams/schools in developing the EAP. Additionally, sports medicine professionals are ideally suited to help develop the EAPs and should be used as a resource.