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.
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.
Description:
There has been increasing recognition of the need for effectiveness research within the real-world intervention context of community sport. This is important because, even if interventions have been shown to be efficacious in controlled trials, if they are not also widely adopted and sustained, then it is unlikely that they will have a public health impact. There is very little information about how to best conduct such studies, but application of health promotion frameworks, such as the RE-AIM framework, to evaluate the public health impact of interventions could potentially help to understand the implementation context. Care needs to be taken when directly applying the RE-AIM framework, however, because the definitions for each of its dimensions will depend on the level/s the intervention is targeted at. This paper provides a novel extension to the RE-AIM framework (the RE-AIM SportsSetting Matrix (RE-AIM SSM)), which accounts for the fact that many sports injury interventions need to be targeted at multiple levels of sports delivery. Accordingly, the RE-AIM components also need to be measured across all tiers of possible influence on the rate of uptake and effectiveness. Specific examples are given for coach delivered exercise training interventions. The RE-AIM SSM is specific to the community sports setting implementation context and could be used to guide the delivery of future sports safety, and other health promotion, interventions in this area.
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.
Description:
Intersectoral partnerships in health have a central role in current policy and programs. Partnerships are seen to be an effective strategy for maximising health outcomes. However, theoretical models of health partnerships are underdeveloped. Moreover, the research literature contains inconsistent findings about their effectiveness, and there has been very little evaluative research on health partnerships in this country. This paper reports on a case study of an intersectoral consortium using a health promotion approach to cardiovascular disease. A model of partnership formation and development is presented. From this, a research strategy was devised and carried out. Results indicate that the health consortium was formed inresponse to a critical health issue, and as a separate legal entity without recurrent funding, it has been sustained through the commitment of individual members. Project funding has, in large part, dictated its operations. The case study reveals the strengths, vulnnerabilities and achievements of this consortium over five years. To produce sustainable health outcomes, the researchers conclude, partnerships require strategic management to capitalise on individual endeavours, organisational alignments, and government or funder priorities. Ideological zeal for intersectoral health partnerships must be balanced by rigorous evaluation; together with more sophisticated indicators for measuring success in partnerships in health promotion. Theoretical development of models of health partnerships will also contribute to their enhanced effectiveness.
Description:
Intersectoral partnerships in health have a central role in current policy and programs. Partnerships are seen to be an effective strategy for maximising health outcomes. However, theoretical models of health partnerships are underdeveloped. Moreover, the research literature contains inconsistent findings about their effectiveness, and there has been very little evaluative research on health partnerships in this country. This paper reports on a case study of an intersectoral consortium using a health promotion approach to cardiovascular disease. A model of partnership formation and development is presented. From this, a research strategy was devised and carried out. Results indicate that the health consortium was formed inresponse to a critical health issue, and as a separate legal entity without recurrent funding, it has been sustained through the commitment of individual members. Project funding has, in large part, dictated its operations. The case study reveals the strengths, vulnnerabilities and achievements of this consortium over five years. To produce sustainable health outcomes, the researchers conclude, partnerships require strategic management to capitalise on individual endeavours, organisational alignments, and government or funder priorities. Ideological zeal for intersectoral health partnerships must be balanced by rigorous evaluation; together with more sophisticated indicators for measuring success in partnerships in health promotion. Theoretical development of models of health partnerships will also contribute to their enhanced effectiveness.
Description:
Issue addressed: The Framework for Student Support Services (FSSS) in Victoria aims to foster resiliency among young people through an emphasis on prevention and early intervention. This study examined the implementation of the first 18 months of the Framework in a rural region. Methods: A process evaluation was conducted involving eight focus groups with student welfare staff and a survey of 79 schools. Results: Participants reported frustration with delays in professional development, a perceived lack of resources and difficulty engaging the community welfare and health sectors. The survey revealed that schools were targeting primary prevention activities. Conclusion: The student welfare system is successfully introducing some early intervention services. However, the system is still largely constrained to work clinically with individual high risk students. Staff are attempting to introduce a whole-school approach to promoting resiliency. There is significant variation between schools in their efforts and successes. So what?: The Framework is an ambitious, long term program. It presents major challenges for reorienting the priorities and activities of the student support system. Implementation could be improved through a statewide evaluation and learning from research on the delivery of other whole-school approaches to student support. (author abstract)
Description:
The field of practice addressed by this Portfolio of works is mental health promotion in the context of survival of extreme, organized, armed violence and associated repression. Studies were undertaken in two historical and geo-political settings – Cambodian refugees in Australia post 1979 and Bulgarian post World War II concentration camp survivors after the fall of communism in 1989. The portfolio reports on original image-based research in mental health promotion, using discussions by focus groups composed of genocide and repression survivors. The discourse developed by each group following reflection on a set of photographs from respective conflict periods was used to explore meaning-making within that survivor group.
Description:
The field of practice addressed by this Portfolio of works is mental health promotion in the context of survival of extreme, organized, armed violence and associated repression. Studies were undertaken in two historical and geo-political settings – Cambodian refugees in Australia post 1979 and Bulgarian post World War II concentration camp survivors after the fall of communism in 1989. The portfolio reports on original image-based research in mental health promotion, using discussions by focus groups composed of genocide and repression survivors. The discourse developed by each group following reflection on a set of photographs from respective conflict periods was used to explore meaning-making within that survivor group.
Description:
The involvement of the sport and recreation sector as a setting for health promotion is a new strategy implemented by health policy makers and strategic planners. Strategies to promote and sustain health promotion activities are important considering the risk that programs may cease after initial funding ends. This study explored the factors affecting the sustainability of a sport- and recreation-based health promotion program. A stratified sampling method was used to select four of the nine Regional Sports Assemblies (RSAs) that delivered a state-wide health promotion program funded by the Victorian Health Promotion Foundation in Australia. Data were collected from in-depth interviews with four Executive Officers (EOs) and focus group discussions with their Boards of Management. A sustainability checklist with pre-specified dimensions (e.g. organisational setting, broader community environment, and program design and implementation) guided data collection and analysis. The results showed that the organisational. setting and the broader community environment supported program institutionalisation; whilst the design and implementation of the program worked against institutionalisation. The capacity of the organisations to generate new funds for the program was limited; the relationship between the central funding organisation and the Boards of Management was weak; and the program did not support the retention of staff. The engagement of sport and recreation organisations has potential to facilitate health promotion and public health. To enhance organisational capacity and achieve program sustainability, it is important that organisational processes, structures, and resources that support long-term health promotion practice are effectively and efficiently planned and managed. (C) 2007 Sports Medicine Australia. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Description:
The involvement of the sport and recreation sector as a setting for health promotion is a new strategy implemented by health policy makers and strategic planners. Strategies to promote and sustain health promotion activities are important considering the risk that programs may cease after initial funding ends. This study explored the factors affecting the sustainability of a sport- and recreation-based health promotion program. A stratified sampling method was used to select four of the nine Regional Sports Assemblies (RSAs) that delivered a state-wide health promotion program funded by the Victorian Health Promotion Foundation in Australia. Data were collected from in-depth interviews with four Executive Officers (EOs) and focus group discussions with their Boards of Management. A sustainability checklist with pre-specified dimensions (e.g. organisational setting, broader community environment, and program design and implementation) guided data collection and analysis. The results showed that the organisational. setting and the broader community environment supported program institutionalisation; whilst the design and implementation of the program worked against institutionalisation. The capacity of the organisations to generate new funds for the program was limited; the relationship between the central funding organisation and the Boards of Management was weak; and the program did not support the retention of staff. The engagement of sport and recreation organisations has potential to facilitate health promotion and public health. To enhance organisational capacity and achieve program sustainability, it is important that organisational processes, structures, and resources that support long-term health promotion practice are effectively and efficiently planned and managed. (C) 2007 Sports Medicine Australia. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Description:
Sport and recreation organisations can play a key role in the development of physical activity strategies in health promotion. There is a paucity of research that has examined the engagement of a wide range of sport and recreation organisations in partnership approaches that promote active lifestyles. This research used a multiple-case study protocol to explore partnership development between a range of professional (e.g., paid recreation staff) and volunteer organisations (e.g., club-based sport). A total of 22 partnership members were interviewed from eight sport and recreation partnership programs funded by the victorian health promotion Foundation (vichealth) in Australia. Content analysis was used to analyse the interviews with reference to a public health partnership framework. In partnership formation, results showed that representatives from professional organisations shared interests in health promotion goals, while volunteer organisations focused on increases in club membership; professionals lacked organisational capacity in terms of leadership and skills while volunteers lacked human resource capacity. Engaging the sport and recreation sector in partnerships that aim to promote active lifestyles requires long-term commitment from funding agencies and partnering organisations. The design of pragmatic programs that build on the core business of each participating organisation, irrespective of whether they share a common mission, is important. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Description:
Effectiveness of the 2006 Commonwealth Games 10,000 Steps Walking Challenge. Med. Sci. Sports Exerc., Vol. 41, No. S. pp. 1673-1680, 2009. Introduction: There is little evidence Supporting sustainability of public health interventions based upon the 10,000 steps concept conducted in "real-world" settings. This study investigated the effectiveness of the 10,000 Steps Walking Challenge, initiated in con junction with the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne. Australia, in March 2006. Methods: This study analyzed characteristics of registrants (n = 1836), pedometer counts logged onto a Web site between February 2006 and February 2007 (n = 18,032 entries by 914 participants), and two surveys of participants in June 2006 (n = 128) and December 2006 (n = 62). Results: The program reached its target population of females aged 30-49 yr (40.2% of participants), a group known to have low activity levels, which also has potential to influence the behavior of family, friends, and workmates. Compliance was poor: only 49.8% of registrants ever logged steps, and of these, only 45.5% Continued beyond the period of the challenge and 16.6% for more than 1 month. Mean (9527 +/- 297, 95% confidence interval) and median (9638) recorded steps per day came close to the target of 10,000 steps; 80.1% of participants reached 10,000 steps at least once and 21.9% did so every time they logged steps. For survey respondents who provided complete data (n = 53) the mean estimated daily steps increased significantly (P < 0.001) from 6401 +/- 884 steps before the program to 9921 +/- 1039 steps at the first survey and then fell back significantly (P = 0.026) to 8727 +/- 1284 steps at the second survey but remained significantly higher than the baseline figure (P < 0.001). Conclusion: The program had immediate effectiveness and was Sustainable for a small proportion of participants, but effectiveness was limited by problems with long-term motivation and compliance/adherence.
Description:
Effectiveness of the 2006 Commonwealth Games 10,000 Steps Walking Challenge. Med. Sci. Sports Exerc., Vol. 41, No. S. pp. 1673-1680, 2009. Introduction: There is little evidence Supporting sustainability of public health interventions based upon the 10,000 steps concept conducted in "real-world" settings. This study investigated the effectiveness of the 10,000 Steps Walking Challenge, initiated in con junction with the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne. Australia, in March 2006. Methods: This study analyzed characteristics of registrants (n = 1836), pedometer counts logged onto a Web site between February 2006 and February 2007 (n = 18,032 entries by 914 participants), and two surveys of participants in June 2006 (n = 128) and December 2006 (n = 62). Results: The program reached its target population of females aged 30-49 yr (40.2% of participants), a group known to have low activity levels, which also has potential to influence the behavior of family, friends, and workmates. Compliance was poor: only 49.8% of registrants ever logged steps, and of these, only 45.5% Continued beyond the period of the challenge and 16.6% for more than 1 month. Mean (9527 +/- 297, 95% confidence interval) and median (9638) recorded steps per day came close to the target of 10,000 steps; 80.1% of participants reached 10,000 steps at least once and 21.9% did so every time they logged steps. For survey respondents who provided complete data (n = 53) the mean estimated daily steps increased significantly (P < 0.001) from 6401 +/- 884 steps before the program to 9921 +/- 1039 steps at the first survey and then fell back significantly (P = 0.026) to 8727 +/- 1284 steps at the second survey but remained significantly higher than the baseline figure (P < 0.001). Conclusion: The program had immediate effectiveness and was Sustainable for a small proportion of participants, but effectiveness was limited by problems with long-term motivation and compliance/adherence.
Description:
The purpose of the study was to examine the effect of a group training program, based on cognitive behavioural theory and techniques, on the problem-solving skills of adolescents. Evidence of a link between suicidal ideation (engaging in suicidal thinking) and reported deficits in social problem-solving or coping competence levels in adolescents is an area of investigation that offers some hope for suicide primary prevention programs. The study tried to determine if teaching social problem solving skills in a school would better equip adolescents with coping with problematic situations. The work of Hawton (1997) Hawton and Kirk (1989), Lerner and Clum (1990) and McLeavey, Daly, Ludgate and Murray (1994) formed the basis of the training program design. The emphasis was on general problem-solving skills rather on a participant’s specific current problems. Included was training in listening skills, assistance in developing problem-solving skills rather on a participant’s specific current problems. Included was training in listening skills, assistance in developing appropriate problem-solving behaviours and role simulation through the use of structured video case scenarios. Seventy four male and female year 10 secondary school students were subjects in the study. They were randomly divided into two, approximately equal, groups. Thirty six subjects established the control group and the remaining thirty eight constituted the experimental group. The findings indicated that students exposed to the problem solving training program did not have significantly higher problem-solving ability, as measured by the Problem Solving Inventory (PSI) than those who were not exposed to the training. However, females in the experimental group were significantly more likely to make conscious decisions about when they would approach or avoid a problem when compared to control group females. It is suggested that the adaptation of training, designed for suicidal clients, needs to be explored further for application to Year 10 students in the general population. More research is needed into ways to provide school based preventative training programs that will assist in the development of coping skills.
Description:
Master of Health Science (Health Promotion)
Description:
The purpose of the study was to examine the effect of a group training program, based on cognitive behavioural theory and techniques, on the problem-solving skills of adolescents. Evidence of a link between suicidal ideation (engaging in suicidal thinking) and reported deficits in social problem-solving or coping competence levels in adolescents is an area of investigation that offers some hope for suicide primary prevention programs. The study tried to determine if teaching social problem solving skills in a school would better equip adolescents with coping with problematic situations. The work of Hawton (1997) Hawton and Kirk (1989), Lerner and Clum (1990) and McLeavey, Daly, Ludgate and Murray (1994) formed the basis of the training program design. The emphasis was on general problem-solving skills rather on a participant’s specific current problems. Included was training in listening skills, assistance in developing problem-solving skills rather on a participant’s specific current problems. Included was training in listening skills, assistance in developing appropriate problem-solving behaviours and role simulation through the use of structured video case scenarios. Seventy four male and female year 10 secondary school students were subjects in the study. They were randomly divided into two, approximately equal, groups. Thirty six subjects established the control group and the remaining thirty eight constituted the experimental group. The findings indicated that students exposed to the problem solving training program did not have significantly higher problem-solving ability, as measured by the Problem Solving Inventory (PSI) than those who were not exposed to the training. However, females in the experimental group were significantly more likely to make conscious decisions about when they would approach or avoid a problem when compared to control group females. It is suggested that the adaptation of training, designed for suicidal clients, needs to be explored further for application to Year 10 students in the general population. More research is needed into ways to provide school based preventative training programs that will assist in the development of coping skills.
Description:
Master of Health Science (Health Promotion)
Description:
"This study provides a postcritical analysis of the discourses on workplace health, using data gathered with information technology company Labyrinth Computing."
Description:
"This study provides a postcritical analysis of the discourses on workplace health, using data gathered with information technology company Labyrinth Computing."
Description:
This paper reviews two relatively young fields of research - positive psychology and internet interventions – and discusses the combined potential of online positive psychology interventions (OPPIs) as an effective and sustainable health promotion tool. Five randomised controlled trials were identified testing the efficacy of OPPIs as a means of enhancing well-being, with three studies demonstrating increased well-being compared to a control group. Three studies also demonstrated depression symptom reduction, suggesting that well-being interventions may also have an illness treatment and prevention function. While this review is limited by the small number of studies currently available, researchers and practitioners are asked to consider the mental health promotion opportunities and benefits of delivering well-being interventions online.
Description:
This paper reviews two relatively young fields of research - positive psychology and internet interventions – and discusses the combined potential of online positive psychology interventions (OPPIs) as an effective and sustainable health promotion tool. Five randomised controlled trials were identified testing the efficacy of OPPIs as a means of enhancing well-being, with three studies demonstrating increased well-being compared to a control group. Three studies also demonstrated depression symptom reduction, suggesting that well-being interventions may also have an illness treatment and prevention function. While this review is limited by the small number of studies currently available, researchers and practitioners are asked to consider the mental health promotion opportunities and benefits of delivering well-being interventions online.
Sprint interval training and the school curriculum : Benefits upon cardiorespiratory fitness, physical activity profiles, and cardiometabolic risk profiles of healthy adolescents
Description:
Background: This study examined the impact of a 4-week school-based sprint interval training program on cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), daily physical activity (PA) behavior, and cardiometabolic risk (CMR) outcomes in adolescents. Methods: A total of 56 adolescents (22 females) were allocated to either an intervention (n = 22; 17.0 [0.3] y) or control group (n = 30; 16.8 [0.5] y). Intervention group performed 5 to 6, 30 second "all out" running sprints, interspersed with 30-second rest intervals, 3 times per week, for 4 consecutive weeks, whereas control group performed their normal physical education lessons. CRF was estimated from the 20-m multistage fitness test and PA behavior was determined using accelerometry. Fasting blood samples were obtained to measure biochemical markers of CMR. Results: Significant group x time interactions were observed for CRF (5.03 [1.66 to 8.40]; P < .001; d = 0.95), sedentary time (136.15 [91.91 to 180.39]; P = .004; d = 1.8), moderate PA (57.20 [32.17 to 82.23]; P < .001; d = 1.5), vigorous PA (5.40 [4.22 to 6.57]; P < .001; d = 1.2), fasting insulin (0.37 [-0.48 to 1.21]; P = .01; d = 1.0), homeostasis model of assessment-insulin resistance (0.26 [0.15 to 0.42]; P < .001; d = 0.9), and clustered CMR score (0.22 [-0.05 to 0.68]; P < .001; d = 10.63). Conclusion: Findings of this study indicate that 4 weeks of school-based sprint interval training improves CRF, improves PA profiles, and maintains CMR in adolescents during the school term.
Description:
Background: This study examined the impact of a 4-week school-based sprint interval training program on cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), daily physical activity (PA) behavior, and cardiometabolic risk (CMR) outcomes in adolescents. Methods: A total of 56 adolescents (22 females) were allocated to either an intervention (n = 22; 17.0 [0.3] y) or control group (n = 30; 16.8 [0.5] y). Intervention group performed 5 to 6, 30 second "all out" running sprints, interspersed with 30-second rest intervals, 3 times per week, for 4 consecutive weeks, whereas control group performed their normal physical education lessons. CRF was estimated from the 20-m multistage fitness test and PA behavior was determined using accelerometry. Fasting blood samples were obtained to measure biochemical markers of CMR. Results: Significant group x time interactions were observed for CRF (5.03 [1.66 to 8.40]; P < .001; d = 0.95), sedentary time (136.15 [91.91 to 180.39]; P = .004; d = 1.8), moderate PA (57.20 [32.17 to 82.23]; P < .001; d = 1.5), vigorous PA (5.40 [4.22 to 6.57]; P < .001; d = 1.2), fasting insulin (0.37 [-0.48 to 1.21]; P = .01; d = 1.0), homeostasis model of assessment-insulin resistance (0.26 [0.15 to 0.42]; P < .001; d = 0.9), and clustered CMR score (0.22 [-0.05 to 0.68]; P < .001; d = 10.63). Conclusion: Findings of this study indicate that 4 weeks of school-based sprint interval training improves CRF, improves PA profiles, and maintains CMR in adolescents during the school term.
Description:
Community sport organisations face increasing pressure from stakeholders to devote resources to activities that help them appear as being socially responsible actors in society. This study extends the concept of social responsibility from the corporate sport domain to investigate the relative importance of social responsibilities for community sport clubs. Items were developed from the Global Reporting Initiative and International Standards Organisation guidance on socially responsible organisations. A three-wave Delphi study was conducted internationally with 33 sport management academics and 23 national sport organisation managers. This study found that community sport clubs are primarily responsible for enhancing sport participation, creating a safe and inclusive environment, and ensuring the club is economically and legally sound. It is concluded that for sport clubs to be socially responsible organisations, their focus should be on fulfilling obligations that meaningfully impact their community, before devoting scarce resources to activities beyond their immediate capacity.
Description:
Community sport organisations face increasing pressure from stakeholders to devote resources to activities that help them appear as being socially responsible actors in society. This study extends the concept of social responsibility from the corporate sport domain to investigate the relative importance of social responsibilities for community sport clubs. Items were developed from the Global Reporting Initiative and International Standards Organisation guidance on socially responsible organisations. A three-wave Delphi study was conducted internationally with 33 sport management academics and 23 national sport organisation managers. This study found that community sport clubs are primarily responsible for enhancing sport participation, creating a safe and inclusive environment, and ensuring the club is economically and legally sound. It is concluded that for sport clubs to be socially responsible organisations, their focus should be on fulfilling obligations that meaningfully impact their community, before devoting scarce resources to activities beyond their immediate capacity.
Description:
This paper seeks to review the current international health-promoting sports club (HPSC) research, drawing together findings based on case studies from various countries to illustrate the status of HPSCs. In addition, future challenges for HPSC research and implementation are considered. The review includes six case studies from five countries. In summary, there are two major research themes in this area, namely 'research into HPSC activity' and 'research into HPSC networks'. The first theme investigates the extent to which sports clubs and/or national sports organisations invest in health promotion (HP) - both in policy and practice. The latter theme is driven by an intention to widen the scope of HPSCs to reach novel internal actors, like parents, siblings, etc., and/or external non-sporting bodies, like communities, schools, etc. The future challenges for HPSC research require a better understanding of the motives, barriers and capacities of sports clubs and coaches. Sports organisations, clubs and coaches generally support the intent of the HPSC concept, but even with the best evidence- or theory-based HP programmes/guidelines/standards, nothing will happen in practice if the nature and capacities of sports clubs are not better acknowledged. Therefore, a call for embracing implementation science is finally made to enhance implementation.