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Document Type

Article

First Page

27

Abstract

This study used an explanatory mixed-method design to investigate the relationships between preceptor mentorship in clinical education and success on the Board of Certification (BOC) exam for athletic trainers. The Athletic Training Preceptor Mentoring Traits Survey (ATPMTS) was developed by the researchers via a Delphi method following review of mentoring literature from nursing, athletic training, and academic medicine. Three hundred four athletic training students completed the survey during the last year of their training and before the BOC exam. Preceptor ratings were compared for students who passed the BOC on the first attempt (n =241) and students who did not pass on the first attempt (n = 63) using t-tests of independent means. The results of the analyses indicated that ATPMTS composite and subscale scores of students who passed the BOC exam on the first attempt were significantly different (higher) from composite and subscale scores of students who did not pass the BOC on the first attempt. Additionally, 60% of students who passed the BOC exam on the first attempt learned with their preceptor mentor either the semester of taking the BOC exam or the semester before taking the BOC exam. The results of this study have important implications for the selection and training of athletic training preceptors.

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