Month/Year of Graduation

12-2025

Degree Name

Bachelor of Science (B.S.)

Department

Medical Humanities

First Advisor

Dan Hawkins

Abstract

Recovering from injury is crucial for an athlete’s health-related quality of life and mental health. A potentially significant moment that could influence an athlete’s mindset towards recovery is the interaction between the provider and athlete during initial diagnosis. To analyze this moment from both perspectives, this study performs a thematic analysis of five semi-structured provider interviews and ten athlete interviews. In this study, all five providers exemplified an understanding of this moment’s significance, expressing awareness of their potential impact on the athlete’s mindset, and emphasizing mutual understanding to ensure streamlined recovery. Meanwhile, all ten of the athletes expressed self-awareness regarding their injury, and half were able to intuitively make sense of its severity/associated recovery prior to diagnosis (meaning the provider’s diagnosis did not affect them). However, during times the athlete could not be certain of the injury’s severity, associated recovery, or effect on career, they expressed a significant emotional response to the diagnostic news from their provider.

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