Date of Award

Spring 2025

Document Type

DNP Project

Degree Name

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

Department

Nursing

Committee Chairperson

Jacqueline Owens, PhD

Abstract

This quality improvement (QI) project investigated female collegiate athletes’ knowledge and prevalence of Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (REDs) and the Female Athlete Triad (Triad). The increase in female athletics brings a growing concern for performance-related health risks, including low energy availability (LEA), menstrual dysfunction, and low bone mineral density (BMD). This study assessed the effectiveness of education and self-screening in identifying at-risk athletes and encouraging resource application for intervention. A mixed-methods design was employed, utilizing retrospective data along with pre- and post-intervention surveys. The study involved 33 female collegiate athletes from lean endurance sports, assessing knowledge, risk factors, and willingness to seek medical intervention. Athletes completed the Eating Attitudes Test-26 (EAT-26) and the Low Energy Availability in Females Questionnaire (LEAF-Q), followed by an educational video and post-intervention evaluation. Findings discovered 33% of athletes screened positive for potential disordered eating behaviors, while 39% were at risk for the Triad, representing a 62.5% increase in identification compared to the previous academic year. The educational intervention substantially improved athletes’ knowledge of REDs and the Triad, showing a mean increase in participants’ understanding throughout all survey questions. Moreover, 68.6% of respondents expressed a willingness to utilize nutritional resources provided, and 65.7% reported they were agreeable to seek further medical screenings. Key findings of this project include the necessity of structured education and screening to mitigate health risks in female athletes. The results advocate for university policy modification to apply routine screening and intervention protocols with the goal of improving long-term health outcomes.

Download

Share

COinS