Keywords: interpersonal violence, safeguarding, sports medicine
#WWYD Blog: bjsports-2024-108210
Why is this study important?
Harassment and abuse in sports, whether it be psychological, physical, sexual or neglect, pose serious risks to athletes, impacting their psychological, physical, and emotional well-being. Sports medicine physicians (SMPs) are often the first to notice when something is wrong, so they play a key role in protecting athletes. But until now, we didn’t know how confident SMPs feel about recognizing and reporting harassment and abuse. This study is the first to look at how prepared SMPs around the world are to handle these situations and highlights important gaps that need addressing (1).
How did the study go about this?
We surveyed 406 sports medicine physicians from 115 countries to find out how well they can identify and report harassment and abuse in their athletes. We also asked about their experiences over the past year, how confident they feel about dealing with these issues, and what barriers get in the way of reporting.
What did the study find?
Even though most SMPs are aware of the harms caused by harassment and abuse, many don’t feel comfortable recognizing the signs or reporting their concerns. Over half of the physicians said they hadn’t received enough training, and nearly 85% want more education in this area. A lot of them didn’t know where or how to report harassment and abuse, and some didn’t know who the safeguarding officer in their organization was. Interestingly, female SMPs showed a greater awareness of the impacts of harassment, which may be linked to their own experiences in sport. However, both male and female physicians pointed out similar barriers to reporting, such as worries about confidentiality, fear of backlash, and lack of time or knowledge. Despite increasing awareness of harassment and abuse in sports, this study reveals a critical gap in the training and confidence of SMPs worldwide. While physicians recognize the need to protect athletes, practical barriers—like fears of breaching confidentiality, potential retaliation, and a lack of clarity on reporting procedures—pose challenges. These obstacles highlight a disconnect between understanding the severity of HA and feeling equipped to act on suspicions. Addressing these barriers is essential for creating a safer environment for athletes. Moreover, the gender differences observed emphasize the need for more nuanced training. Female SMPs, likely drawing from personal or professional experiences, demonstrated greater sensitivity to the harms of harassment and abuse. This points to the importance of including diverse perspectives and lived experiences in safeguarding education.
What are the key take-home points?
- Need for more training: Over half of the SMPs feel they don’t have enough
training to deal with harassment and abuse, and nearly all want more
education to help them develop these skills. - Barriers to reporting: Common reasons for not reporting include worries
about confidentiality, fear of negative consequences, and not knowing where
to report or who to talk to. - Gender differences: Female SMPs were more aware of the impact of
harassment and abuse, possibly because of their own experiences. This
shows the need for gender-sensitive training. - Call for action: Safeguarding training should be a standard part of both initial
and ongoing training for SMPs. There’s also a need for an international safeguarding code to guide SMPs on how to protect athletes and report harassment and abuse.
How should this change clinical practice?
SMPs need to feel confident in recognizing and responding to harassment and abuse. To achieve this, safeguarding training needs to be included in sports medicine programs and in continuing medical education. This study also shows that training needs to address gender and cultural differences. By creating an international safeguarding code, SMPs will have clearer guidelines to help them report and manage signs, concerns and disclosures of harassment and abuse. Ultimately, this will improve the care and protection that athletes receive.
Original study can be found here
Original study infographic can be found here
Blog authors: Tine Vertommen and Margo Mountjoy
References:
(1) Mountjoy M, Verhelle H, Finnoff JT, et al#WhatWouldYouDo? A cross-
sectional study of sports medicine physicians assessing their competency in
managing harassment and abuse in sportsBritish Journal of Sports Medicine
Published Online First: 11 October 2024. doi: 10.1136/bjsports-2024-108210