FIFA football nurse – A task sharing approach in sports and exercise medicine practice in grassroots women’s football in low- and middle- income settings.
A summary of the article:
The article titled "FIFA Football Nurse: A Task Sharing Approach in Sports and Exercise Medicine Practice in Grassroots Women’s Football in Low- and Middle-Income Settings" outlines a study protocol for improving medical care in women’s football in Malawi. The study seeks to address the shortage of trained sports and exercise medicine (SEM) personnel in sub-Saharan Africa by introducing a new role, the "Football Nurse." These nurses, who are trained in basic sports medicine, are assigned to grassroots women’s football teams to manage injuries and health issues. The study uses a cluster randomized controlled trial (RCT) to evaluate the impact of having a trained Football Nurse on the prevention and management of injuries during one competitive season in Malawi's women’s football league. Teams are divided into two groups—those with a Football Nurse and those without—and outcomes such as injury prevention, injury rates, and healthcare practices are compared.
The article emphasizes that including nurses in sports medicine practices can help bridge the gap in medical care for women’s football, especially in underserved regions. It is expected that teams with Football Nurses will show better injury prevention behaviors and reduced injury rates, while improving overall medical care at the grassroots level. The study also examines the feasibility of using this task-sharing model in other low-resource settings to ensure safer participation in women’s football.
Key Takeaways:
Task-sharing approach: The Football Nurse model is introduced as a solution to the shortage of SEM personnel in low- and middle-income countries, particularly for women’s football.
Injury prevention and management: Teams with a Football Nurse are expected to show improved injury prevention behaviors and better management of injuries compared to teams without one.
Sustainability: The study aims to develop a low-cost, sustainable model that can be replicated in similar settings, enhancing medical care for women's football at the grassroots level.
Authors: Nonhlanhla Sharon Mkumbuzi , Andrew Massey, Samuel Kiwanuka Lubega, Ben Sorowen, Enock Madalitso Chisati
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