Planting the Seeds for Patient Self-Advocacy in Youth Female Athletes

The healthcare system exhibits significant disparities in the treatment of women, a complexity further exacerbated by factors such as race, age, and access to women healthcare providers. These disparities are also evident in sports healthcare, particularly impacting girls and young women who may already face tremendous pressure to play through pain and dysfunction. Creating a culture of authentic and honest health reporting among young female athletes offers several long-term benefits, such as enhanced self-advocacy, body autonomy, and improved understanding of pain perception. Athletic trainers (ATs) play a vital role in establishing such a culture.

Learning Environment:

Lecture/Discussion

Learning Objectives

At the end of this presentation the learner will be able to:

Explain the athletic trainer's vital role in supporting youth female athletes in developing self-advocacy skills related to their health.
Reflect on and reframe clinical interactions with this patient population to improve the accuracy of health reporting and patient outcomes.

Required Materials

None

Schedule of Events (All times are Central Daylight Time)

8:30-10:00am - Lecture

Cancellation/Refund Policy

Fall 2023 Denise Fandel Distinguished Lecture