Title

Athlete healthcare behaviour: An ethnographer’s methodological conundrum

Authors

Ben Koh, University of Notre Dame AustraliaFollow
Lynne Freeman, University of Technology, Sydney
Paul Jonson, University of Technology, Sydney
Chris Zaslawski, University of Technology, Sydney

Publication Details

Koh, B., Freeman, L., Jonson, P., & Zaslawski, C. (2009). Athlete healthcare behaviour: An ethnographer’s methodological conundrum. 4th Annual Joint University of Liverpool Management School and Keele University Institute for Public Policy and Management Symposium on Current Developments in Ethnographic Research in the Social and Management Sciences.

Abstract

Behind every consumer’s decision about utilizing health care products and services are their perception of health and illness (Hughner, 2008). Such lay understanding affect consumers’ health behaviour and health outcomes (Moorman & Matulich, 1993); it also determines the choice and efficacy of conventional versus complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) products and services (Hughner, 2008).

This paper examines these choices amongst a group of competitive athletes, specifically swimmers. Competitive athletes operate in a unique social environment that may result in a culture that is different from the general population. As such this may influence the athletes' beliefs, motivations and impact on their health-seeking behaviour regardless of whether they are seeking help for an existing problem, for the prevention of problems, or for performance enhancement in their sport.

Keywords

Published in Full, Athlete, Ethnography, Doping, CAM

Comments

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