It's not just about competition! Building sport's capacity for population-focused physical activity promotion and development of healthy settings
- Authors: Casey, Meghan , Harvey, Jack , Payne, Warren , Eime, Rochelle
- Date: 2009
- Type: Text , Conference paper
- Relation: Paper presented at 2009 Australia Conference of Science and Medicine in Sport, Seventh National Physical Activity Conference, Sixth National Sports Injury Prevention Conference, Be Active '09, Brisbane, Queensland : 14th-17th October 2009
- Full Text: false
- Description: Understanding organisational capacity is crucial for addressing how organisations can develop in order to contribute to health promotion objectives and facilitate the implementation of health promotion activities within their settings. This study explored the capacity of Sport Governing Organisations (SGOs) to participate in population-focused health promotion activities. Participants from SGOs in the Australian state of Victoria were invited to complete a Health Promotion and Sport Assessment Tool (HP-SAT) which included items from capacity building checklists (strength of a coalition, capacity of an organisation to tackle health issues, and quality of planning including strategic and operational planning for health promotion) and a partnership analysis tool. Participants completed the HP-SAT in two phases—first to identify their SGO's current capacity to implement health promotion activities; and second a reflection of their SGO's capacity five years previously, prior to funding from a health promotion body. For each substantive area in the HP-SAT (e.g., capacity to address health issues) a composite score was calculated by summing the numerically coded responses to each item pertaining to the particular area. The scores represented the capacity to implement health promotion activities, and were expressed on a scale of 0–100. Paired samples t-tests were used to test for differences in the capacity scores between the two time points. The mean scores for the six capacity and partnership areas ranged from 39.1 to 61.5 at the retrospective survey and significantly increased to 56.9–78.2 for the current survey (p < 0.05 for all six areas). Scores for operational planning for health promotion and SGO collaboration activities increased the most, by 27.9 and 19.4 percentage points, respectively. Strategic planning for health promotion scored the lowest for the current survey. This presentation will discuss how to build capacity within the sport sector to facilitate the implementation of health promotion activities and to engage sport settings in health promotion activities. In particular, it will focus on how to promote health by creating health-promoting environments and/or increase physical activity levels through sport participation.
Participation in sport and physical activity for rural adolescent girls : A socio-ecological approach
- Authors: Casey, Meghan , Eime, Rochelle , Payne, Warren , Harvey, Jack , Bellamy, M. , Maher, Shelley
- Date: 2009
- Type: Text , Conference paper
- Relation: Paper presented at ASICS Conference of science and medicine in sport 2008, Hamilton Island : 16th-18th October 2008
- Full Text: false
- Description: Adolescence is a critical time for developing lifelong healthy behaviours including regular participation in sport and physical activity. Participation in sport and physical activity, however, declines during adolescence and few studies have comprehensively identified why; particularly amongst rural girls. This study identifies a range of independent and interacting factors that influence sport and physical activity participation in rural adolescent girls. Methodology: The socio-ecological model of health was used to conduct four focus group discussions with Grade 7 girls (n = 34). Four secondary schools were randomly selected and checked for remoteness using SEIFA and ARIA+ Indexes. Results: Adolescent girls were positively influenced when sport or physical activities were fun, they involved being with friends, and were supported by families and teachers through role modelling and positive feedback. A range of intrapersonal and organisational factors affected perceived self-competence; particularly the co-educational nature of school physical education classes and peer teasing which supported social comparisons of skill level. Conclusions: In the promotion of sport and physical activity to rural adolescent girls, focus must be directed upon developmentally appropriate activities that are fun, opportunities for single-sex classes, and generating cultural changes that encourage non-competitive, and self-referencing activities.
- Description: 2003007623
Sporting organisations as settings for health promotion : What is going on in the sport sector?
- Authors: Casey, Meghan , Harvey, Jack , Payne, Warren , Eime, Rochelle
- Date: 2009
- Type: Text , Conference paper
- Relation: Paper presented at 2009 Australia Conference of Science and Medicine in Sport, Seventh National Physical Activity Conference, Sixth National Sports Injury Prevention Conference, Be Active '09, Brisbane, Queensland : 14th-17th October 2009
- Full Text: false
- Description: Sport and recreation settings have been used to encourage healthier behaviours through a legislative and policy approach to health promotion via the replacement of tobacco industry sponsorship with health-focused sponsorship. Few studies have used standard and rigorous evaluation tools to identify health promotion policies and practices in sport settings. This study identified health promotion changes within Sport Governing Organisations (SGOs) with respect to the implementation of sport-related health promotion policies and practices in the context of SGO-organised events and in terms of the support provided by SGOs to their affiliated clubs. The Health Promotion and Sport Assessment Tool (HP-SAT) was used to measure health promotion policies and practices regarding smoke-free environments, responsible serving of alcohol, healthy eating, sun protection, injury prevention, club management, and a miscellaneous “other” category (e.g., engagement of health inequality groups). The HP-SAT has moderate to excellent reliability (0.41–0.99). Participants completed the HP-SAT in two phases—first they identified their SGOs current health promotion policies and practices (2007); and second they reflected of their SGO's health promotion policies and practices prior to funding from a health promotion body (2003). For each substantive area in the HP-SAT (e.g. smoke-free environments) a composite score was calculated by summing the numerically coded responses to each item pertaining to the particular area. The scores represented the existence and implementation of health promotion policies and practices and were expressed on a scale of 0-100. Paired samples t-tests were used to test for differences in the scores between the two time points. The mean existence and implementation scores for sport-related health promotion policies and practices for SGO-organised events ranged from 42.9 to 77.6 at the retrospective survey, and increased significantly for the current survey (range: 67.8–90.6; p < 0.05) for all composite scores except sun protection and injury prevention policies. The mean existence and implementation score for sport-related health promotion policies and practices for SGO affiliated clubs ranged from 20.8 to 64.7 at the retrospective survey and 46.3–88.5 at the current survey. Statistically significant increases were found for all composite scores except sun protection and injury prevention (p < 0.05). The existence and implementation of items relating to healthy eating were lowest for both surveys; whilst responses for club management and injury prevention were highest for both surveys. These data indicate that sport has increased its capacity and role in promoting good health since 2003.
What is the best way to develop healthy and welcoming sports clubs?
- Authors: Payne, Warren , Eime, Rochelle , Casey, Meghan , Donaldson, Alex
- Date: 2009
- Type: Text , Conference paper
- Relation: Paper presented at 2009 Australia Conference of Science and Medicine in Sport, Seventh National Physical Activity Conference, Sixth National Sports Injury Prevention Conference, Be Active '09, Brisbane, Queensland : 14th-17th October 2009
- Full Text: false
- Description: Introduction: Optimizing sporting organisations’ capacity to promote health requires development and implementation of appropriate policies and practices. One part of public health policy development involves establishing and enforcing rules and regulations via either externally enforced regulation (Regulatory Approach: RA) or by providing a broad regulatory framework to empower individuals and organisations to pro-actively identify and address contextually relevant issues through member participation (Self-assessment Approach: SA). SA is generally preferred in health promotion to facilitate organizational change, sustainability and ownership. Recently health promotion agencies have funded Sports Governing Organisations (SGOs) to develop policies and practices to promote the adoption of healthy and welcoming environments (HWEs) in affiliated clubs, thereby enhancing active participation and membership. The purpose of this study was to determine which of the two approaches should be used when implementing policy to promote HWEs in clubs. Methodology: Part A: Two focus groups were held, each with representatives of four SGOs. Part B: In-depth exploration involving interviews with SGO HWE program coordinators and representatives of individual community clubs (RA: n = 7, SA: n = 12) in two sports, one using RA and one SA. Results/conclusions: Part A revealed four SGOs adopted SA, two adopted RA, and two had no formal program. With the SA, there was a conscious effort by SGOs not to overload the community clubs given the limited capacity of club volunteers. The approach focused on providing best practice examples and tools to enable clubs to identify their own needs and priorities. The RA was considered very formal and directed, and usually implemented in a staged way as part of a comprehensive club development program. One SGO believed that the RA made it easier for clubs to better understand the HWE program. Part B revealed that both approaches had preferred elements. The club representatives liked the RA as it provided clear guidelines and expectations. It also assisted in standardising policies and practices and therefore assisted clubs to sustain effective management systems. The SA required that clubs had the capacity to identify their needs and priorities through the use of SGO-provided resources. Clubs reportedly enjoyed identifying their own priorities and continually developing within their own capacities and time frames. This approach favoured the development of HWE practices rather than policies. In contrast to accepted health promotion approaches, RA and SA were equally endorsed by their recipients. These findings will be discussed in relation to models of organisational transformation and capacity building.
Linking school-based sport programs to sport club membership
- Authors: Payne, Warren , Eime, Rochelle , Harvey, Jack , Maher, Shelley , Strachan, J.
- Date: 2006
- Type: Text , Conference paper
- Relation: Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport Vol. 9, no. Supplement 1 (2006), p. 39-40
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: This research was undertaken as part of the evaluation of the VicHealth Participation for Health (PfH) Scheme. VicHealth allocate A$ 3.3 million per year to support Victorian state sporting associations (SSAs) through the PfH Scheme to increase population physical activity levels and health via increasing membership of sporting clubs. SSAs were required to allocate a portion of these funds to participation based programs. While setting for participation was not directed, many (n = 27, 44.0%) of the SSAs conducted school-based sport programs. This research sought to explore the factors affecting the linking of school-based programs with sporting club membership. SSAs reported that 50.6% of the PfH Scheme programs (n = 43) were delivered in a school setting. Focus-group discussions found that, in general, the SSAs did not see the school-based programs being a vehicle for directly recruiting club members. Rather, the programs were used to increase the visibility of the sport, train teachers in the sport and to involve children in physical activity. Barriers to linking school-based program participation to club membership included conflict in program delivery time with club activities, and limited ability of club volunteers to assist with school-based programs. A case-study will be presented which involves the introduction of yachting into schools. In general, the SSAs believed school-based engagement was a poor investment. They also felt that agencies such as VicHealth should advocate for the provision of adequate sport infrastructure within schools rather than the schools relying upon the limited resources of the sporting sector to provide school sport services.
Transferring organisational partnerships to physical activity participation : What works and why
- Authors: Payne, Warren , Casey, Meghan , Eime, Rochelle , Brown, Sue , Rathbun, K.
- Date: 2006
- Type: Text , Conference paper
- Relation: Paper presented at ASICS Conference of Science and Medicine in Sport 2006, Fiji : 19th-21st October 2006
- Full Text: false
- Description: The purpose of this research was to explore and understand the nature of organisational partnerships and how they may best be able to facilitate sustainable participation in physical activity. This research was undertaken as part of the evaluation of the VicHealth Partnerships in Community Sport and Active Recreation (PICSAR) Scheme during 2004–2006. Eight programs were explored in depth using a range of interview and survey techniques. Two of these programs will be presented using a case study approach in order to explore the factors affecting the development of organisational partnerships and the subsequent engagement of individuals in physical activity. These cases have been developed using the Capacity Building Framework of the NSW Health Department (2001) and the VicHealth Capacity Building Continuum (2005). The cases highlight that organisational partnerships that have been formed expediently to attract grant funding and focus largely upon the delivery of individual programs are less successful in providing sustained physical activity options than those that operate at both the individual and system (organisational) level. It is recommended that funding agencies who promote partnership development emphasise partnership development prior to program funds being released and the establishment of programs that are embedded within an organisation's core business.
- Description: 2003003134
Skill based modified sports programs for younger participants : The risk of boredom and drop out
- Authors: Eime, Rochelle , Payne, Warren , Casey, Meghan
- Date: 2005
- Type: Text , Conference paper
- Relation: Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport Vol. 8, no. 4 Supplement (2005), p. 79
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: Sport in Australia has recognised that children are not 'little adults'. Initially, responses included modifications to: equipment; playing surface size; some rules. In recent years many sports have developed structured, skill-based, age specific developmental programs for younger participants. The aim of this study is to investigate why participants become involved, and to find out what they enjoy most and least about these programs. Program coordinators/coaches and parents of participants (5-7 years) of two modified sports programs were interviewed. Questions included thoughts about: the program structure and resources; why participants became involved; what the participant likes/dislikes most; how the program could be improved. Behavioural theories are utilised in the discussion of these combined program results. Common themes were found between the thoughts of the program participants and "drop outs";. A main finding was that children join these sports programs to have fun, and when it ceases to become fun they get bored. Participant enjoyment was associated with game and match like activities. Many program coordinators reported altering the program structure to include more game and match like activities. The repetition of the program over two years for the participant was also a common barrier reported. In conclusion, it is recommended that sports programs for young participants are age specific and that they are modified to the full adult version. However, modify the programs to suit the needs and the desires of the children or face high drop out rates.
- Description: 2003006003