Health professions and health promotion: challenges in health and wellbeing among elite athletes

• Published in: Journal of Applied Health Sciences
• Main Author: Zurc, Joca
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: University of Applied Health Sciences 2016
• Subjects: nursing; physiotherapy; health education; health promotion; elite sport; wellbeing of athletes; sestrinstvo; fizioterapija; zdravstveno obrazovanje; promocija zdravlja; vrhunski sport; dobrobit i zdravlje sportaša; sami
• Online Access: http://hrcak.srce.hr/180767; http://hrcak.srce.hr/file/266491

Background: promotion of health is the fundamental strategy for controlling risk factors of unhealthy lifestyle and consequently improving health of individuals and society. Health professions play a leading role in this process. Aim: the purpose of our empirical study was to gain an insight of the role of health professions in health and wellbeing of elite athletes. The research was based on the empirical qualitative phenomenological approach, wherein we examined life experiences of best female gymnasts and their participation in this elite sport. Methods: semi-structured interviews were carried out on a sample of 37 female gymnasts (26 active, 11 retired) and four of their coaches. Interview transcripts were analysed by the qualitative content analysis method. Results: results showed that the process of participating in elite female gymnastics has consequences on the gymnast’s physical and mental health, it affects the abuse of painkillers, lack of education, sacrifices, and negative behavioural patterns in adulthood after finishing a sports career. The stated consequences are generated by verbal and physical violence of coaches, interests of the society over the interests of the athlete, and no professional nor personal support during training and competition. These experience of gymnasts were confirmed by the opinions of their coaches. Conclusion: the study provided important insights in the possibility of new quality approaches to the development of talented children in elite sports, in order to avoid possible risk factors and to ensure safety, health and wellbeing of every child. Uvod: promocija zdravlja temeljna je strategija s pomoću koje se mogu kontrolirati faktori rizika za nezdravi način života, a time ujedno poboljšati zdravlje pojedinca i društva. U tom procesu zdravstvene profesije imaju vodeću ulogu. Cilj: svrha našeg empirijskog istraživanja bila je uvid u ulogu koju zdravstvene profesije imaju u očuvanju zdravlja i dobrobiti elitnih sportaša. Istraživanje se temeljilo na empirijskom fenomenološko-kvalitativnom pristupu, pri čemu smo ispitivali životna iskustva najboljih gimnastičarki i njihovo sudjelovanje u ovom elitnom sportu. Metode: polustrukturirani intervjui provedeni su na uzorku od 37 gimnastičarki (26 aktivnih, 11 umirovljenih gimnastičarki) i njihova četiri trenera. Transkripcije intervjua analizirane su metodom kvalitativne analize sadržaja. Rezultati: rezultati su pokazali da sudjelovanje u elitnoj ženskoj gimnastici ima posljedice na fizičko i mentalno zdravlje gimnastičarki te može uzrokovati zlouporabu lijekova protiv bolova, nedostatak obrazovanja, određene žrtve i negativne obrasce ponašanja u odrasloj dobi nakon završetka sportske karijere. Navedene posljedice također su uzrokovane verbalnim i fizičkim nasiljem trenera, interesom društva koje je važnije od interesa sportaša i nedostatkom stručne i osobne podrške za vrijeme treniranja i natjecanja. Takva iskustva gimnastičarki potvrdili su i sami treneri. Zaključak: istraživanje je omogućilo značajan uvid u mogućnost novih kvalitetnijih pristupa razvoju darovite djece u elitnim sportovima, kako bi se izbjegli mogući faktori rizika i kako bi se osigurala sigurnost, zdravlje i dobrobit svakog djeteta.