The Perceptions of NSAID Use among One Midwestern DIII Athletic Department

NSAIDs are commonly used among athletes for a variety of reasons. The purpose of this research is to gain insight on Division III athletes’view and opinions of NSAIDs. A survey was developed incorporating the Theory of Planned Behavior and distributed to all winter and spring athletic teams of one Midwestern Dill University. By utilizing the Theory of Planned Behavior, this study found attitude toward behavior as the strongest predictor of behavioral intention (p \u3c .001), while both Perceived Behavioral control (p \u3c .001) and Intention (p \u3c .001) were statistically significant predictors of behavior. Another finding from the study was that athletes perceived less than 25% of their teammates as taking NSAIDs. Displaying the importance of an athlete s own personal values and opinions of NSAID use was the strongest predictor of intentions. Further assessment should include more athletes to get a better representation of the athletic department