A Review and Conceptual Framework for Integrating Leadership into Clinical Practice

Context: The purpose of this review is to assess leadership education and practice in athletic training. Leadership is a critical component of athletic training and health care. Leadership research in athletic training is dramatically behind other health care professions. Objective: To develop a model for integrating leadership behavior and education into clinical practice and athletic training education that is based on review of leadership literature within athletic training and to introduce a conceptual framework from which to base future dialogue and by which to describe and assess the demonstration of leadership within athletic training. Data Source: PubMed and CINAHL served as the data sources for the allied health fields and were limited to athletic training and nursing. Other data sources included EBSCO Business Source Complete, ERIC, and leadership and management texts. Data Synthesis: The role and presence of leadership behaviors and skills in athletic training journals were reviewed and summarized. A general overview of the various leadership theories is presented. Conclusions: Leadership behavior can facilitate the transfer of professional behavior and performance from classroom to clinical practice; however, leadership may be perceived to be less important than clinical skills. A model for integrating leadership into athletic training is presented with implications for practice. As athletic training continues to evolve, the need to formalize leadership development for athletic trainers may be warranted. Focusing on the structure and function of leadership behaviors and content may help advance athletic training and align it with other health professions relative to leadership research.