Context: Confidence or self-efficacy may be linked to critical thinking, increased knowledge, and the ability to effectively manage high-stress clinical situations. Therefore, it is crucial to better understand how the utilization of clinical case scenarios within a case-based teaching method may affect learner confidence through experiential learning. Objective: It was three fold: 1) to examine the effects of using clinical case scenarios within case-based learning on the confidence level of pre-professional novice athletic training students in the management of a diabetic emergency, 2) determine the effects of case-based learning on knowledge acquisition, 3) to explore learners’ perceptions on the use and benefits of case-based learning and how this teaching technique influenced their confidence. Design: A two-phase, sequential explanatory mixed methods design was used in this study. Phase I included experimental methods and involved a pre-test, post-test. Phase II involved qualitative methods using interview procedures. Setting: The participants were undergraduate novice athletic training students (ATS’) in four CAATE accredited athletic training programs, located in the Midwest United States. Participants: 93 athletic training students ages 20 plus or minus 2 years participated in this sequential explanatory mixed methods study, 47 in the control groups, 46 in the intervention group. 18 of those participants in the intervention group were interviewed. Intervention: Both the control and intervention groups were present for the same traditional teaching method that consisted of a PowerPoint-facilitated lecture on diabetic emergency provided by the same instructor. Those students selected in the intervention group received one, single case-based scenario for the educational experience. Main Outcome Measures: Confidence levels measured through C Scale, knowledge through scored knowledge quiz and qualitative interviews for students’ perspectives of educational method. Results: To achieve research purpose 1, a paired sample t-test was performed to compare the confidence scale taken after the PowerPoint lecture to the confidence scale taken after the intervention. Although the total sample for the intervention group was n=46, some of the data were removed for this analysis because of researcher error. The Pre-C-Scale was omitted at one institution. Therefore, the participant number for this within-group analysis was n=21. There was a significant difference in the scores for the pre C Scale and Post C Scale. An Independent t-test was conducted to compare the control group confidence scale versus the Intervention group confidence scale. There was a significant difference in the scores for the control group pre C Scale and intervention group post C Scale. To Achieve research purpose 2, an independent t-test was conducted to compare quiz scores for the control group and intervention group knowledge quiz. There was no significant difference in the scores for the control group and intervention group. The overall qualitative findings were that the students found the intervention to be beneficial in increasing knowledge, increasing confidence, facilitating student engagement, and connecting theory to practice. Conclusion: Athletic training education programs are where future clinicians are developed. In order for the profession to thrive and continue in the current direction, educators must help develop competent and knowledgeable clinicians. Therefore, it is critical that athletic training students transfer knowledge from the classroom to the clinical setting, engage with the content in a way that expands their knowledge, and have confidence in their clinical practice. Case-based scenarios integrated into curriculums is possibly to enhance student learning.
