Public swimming pools : Who uses them and why
- Reimers, Vaughan, Walters, Gabrielle
- Authors: Reimers, Vaughan , Walters, Gabrielle
- Date: 2009
- Type: Text , Conference paper
- Relation: Proceedings of the ANZMAC 2009 Conference p. 1-8
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- Description: Despite the importance of aquatic recreation in Australia, the role of public facilities in catering to such leisure needs has largely been ignored. Utilising a survey of patrons, this study develops a profile of users of public outdoor swimming pools and identifies the motives behind their patronage. Analysis revealed some potential access concerns, with males, older residents and the disabled being under-represented in the profile of users. Four motives behind patronage were identified: hedonic motives, convenience, pool features and staff & service.
- Authors: Reimers, Vaughan , Walters, Gabrielle
- Date: 2009
- Type: Text , Conference paper
- Relation: Proceedings of the ANZMAC 2009 Conference p. 1-8
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Despite the importance of aquatic recreation in Australia, the role of public facilities in catering to such leisure needs has largely been ignored. Utilising a survey of patrons, this study develops a profile of users of public outdoor swimming pools and identifies the motives behind their patronage. Analysis revealed some potential access concerns, with males, older residents and the disabled being under-represented in the profile of users. Four motives behind patronage were identified: hedonic motives, convenience, pool features and staff & service.
Age profiles of sport participants
- Eime, Rochelle, Harvey, Jack, Charity, Melanie, Casey, Meghan, Westerbeek, Hans, Payne, Warren
- Authors: Eime, Rochelle , Harvey, Jack , Charity, Melanie , Casey, Meghan , Westerbeek, Hans , Payne, Warren
- Date: 2016
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: BMC Sports Science, Medicine and Rehabilitation Vol. 8, no. 1 (2016), p. 1-10
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- Description: Background: Participation in sport has many health benefits, and is popular amongst children. However participation decreases with age. While the membership records of peak sports organisations have improved markedly in recent years, there has been little research into sport participation trends across the lifespan. This study investigates age profiles of participation in sport and compares these trends between genders and residential locations. Methods: De-identified 2011 participant registration data for seven popular Australian sports (Australian Football, Basketball, Cricket, Hockey, Lawn Bowls, Netball and Tennis) were obtained and analysed according to age, gender and geographical location (metropolitan v non-metropolitan) within the state of Victoria, Australia. All data were integrated and sports were analysed collectively to produce broadly based participation profiles while maintaining confidentiality of membership data for individual sports. Results: The total number of registered participants included in the data set for 2011 was 520,102. Most participants (64.1 %) were aged less than 20 years. Nearly one third (27.6 %) of all participants were aged 10–14 years, followed by the 5–9 year age group (19.9 %). Participation declined rapidly during adolescence. A higher proportion of males than female participants were young children (4–7 years) or young adults 18–29 years; this pattern was reversed among 8–17 year-olds. A higher proportion of metropolitan participants were engaged between the ages of 4–13 and 19–29, whereas a higher proportion of non-metropolitan participants played during adolescence (14–18 years) and throughout mature adulthood (30+ years). Conclusions: Increasing participation in sport is an objective for both government and sporting organisations. In order to have both mass population-based participation, from a health policy and elite performance perspective, we need to further explore the findings arising from the analysis of this extensive data set. Such an examination will lead to better understand of the reasons for attrition during adolescence to inform program and policy developments to retain people participating in sport, for a healthy and sport performing nation.
- Authors: Eime, Rochelle , Harvey, Jack , Charity, Melanie , Casey, Meghan , Westerbeek, Hans , Payne, Warren
- Date: 2016
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: BMC Sports Science, Medicine and Rehabilitation Vol. 8, no. 1 (2016), p. 1-10
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Background: Participation in sport has many health benefits, and is popular amongst children. However participation decreases with age. While the membership records of peak sports organisations have improved markedly in recent years, there has been little research into sport participation trends across the lifespan. This study investigates age profiles of participation in sport and compares these trends between genders and residential locations. Methods: De-identified 2011 participant registration data for seven popular Australian sports (Australian Football, Basketball, Cricket, Hockey, Lawn Bowls, Netball and Tennis) were obtained and analysed according to age, gender and geographical location (metropolitan v non-metropolitan) within the state of Victoria, Australia. All data were integrated and sports were analysed collectively to produce broadly based participation profiles while maintaining confidentiality of membership data for individual sports. Results: The total number of registered participants included in the data set for 2011 was 520,102. Most participants (64.1 %) were aged less than 20 years. Nearly one third (27.6 %) of all participants were aged 10–14 years, followed by the 5–9 year age group (19.9 %). Participation declined rapidly during adolescence. A higher proportion of males than female participants were young children (4–7 years) or young adults 18–29 years; this pattern was reversed among 8–17 year-olds. A higher proportion of metropolitan participants were engaged between the ages of 4–13 and 19–29, whereas a higher proportion of non-metropolitan participants played during adolescence (14–18 years) and throughout mature adulthood (30+ years). Conclusions: Increasing participation in sport is an objective for both government and sporting organisations. In order to have both mass population-based participation, from a health policy and elite performance perspective, we need to further explore the findings arising from the analysis of this extensive data set. Such an examination will lead to better understand of the reasons for attrition during adolescence to inform program and policy developments to retain people participating in sport, for a healthy and sport performing nation.
Girls' transition from participation in a modified sport program to club sport competition - A study of longitudinal patterns and correlates
- Eime, Rochelle, Harvey, Jack, Charity, Melanie
- Authors: Eime, Rochelle , Harvey, Jack , Charity, Melanie
- Date: 2018
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: BMC Public Health Vol. 18, no. 1 (2018), p. 1-7
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- Description: Background: Participation in sport is very popular for young children. Many children participate in entry-level modified sports programs. These programs are modified to match the developmental capacity of children and are aimed at development of fundamental motor skills and sport-specific skills, rather than competition. There is limited research on the longitudinal tracking of children in these programs and into club-based competition. Research suggests that most children drop-out of the sport and do not transition into club-based competition. Furthermore, more females than males drop-out of sport. The aim of this study is to investigate longitudinally, the patterns and demographic predictors of children's transition from modified sport programs to club sport competition for females. Methods: This study analysed sport participation for females in a popular Australian, predominantly female, sport. Players of the modified sports program were followed over 4 years to determine their pattern of transition: transition to junior player status, withdraw from the sport, or continue in the modified program. Pattern of transition was compared across age (4-10), geographical region (metropolitan/non-metropolitan) and socio-economic status (SES). Logistic regression was used to model the effect of the three factors on the likelihood of transition. Results: A total of 13,760 female children (aged 4-10) participated in the modified sport in the first year. The majority (59%) transitioned from the modified sport program and into club competition. However the rate of transition varied with age, residential location and socio-economic status, and there was an interaction between region and SES, with SES having a significant influence on transition in the metropolitan region. The peak sport entry age with the highest rates of transition was 7-9 years. Conclusions: This study demonstrated that whilst the majority of female participants continued participantion and tranisitioned from the modified sport program and into club competition, the strongest correlate of transition was age of entry, with transition rate peaking among those who commenced at age 7-9 years. It is recommended that, in order to maximise continued participation, sport policy and strategic developments should consider the possibility that targeting the very young is not the optimum recruitment strategy for fostering continued sport participation. © 2018 The Author(s).
- Authors: Eime, Rochelle , Harvey, Jack , Charity, Melanie
- Date: 2018
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: BMC Public Health Vol. 18, no. 1 (2018), p. 1-7
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Background: Participation in sport is very popular for young children. Many children participate in entry-level modified sports programs. These programs are modified to match the developmental capacity of children and are aimed at development of fundamental motor skills and sport-specific skills, rather than competition. There is limited research on the longitudinal tracking of children in these programs and into club-based competition. Research suggests that most children drop-out of the sport and do not transition into club-based competition. Furthermore, more females than males drop-out of sport. The aim of this study is to investigate longitudinally, the patterns and demographic predictors of children's transition from modified sport programs to club sport competition for females. Methods: This study analysed sport participation for females in a popular Australian, predominantly female, sport. Players of the modified sports program were followed over 4 years to determine their pattern of transition: transition to junior player status, withdraw from the sport, or continue in the modified program. Pattern of transition was compared across age (4-10), geographical region (metropolitan/non-metropolitan) and socio-economic status (SES). Logistic regression was used to model the effect of the three factors on the likelihood of transition. Results: A total of 13,760 female children (aged 4-10) participated in the modified sport in the first year. The majority (59%) transitioned from the modified sport program and into club competition. However the rate of transition varied with age, residential location and socio-economic status, and there was an interaction between region and SES, with SES having a significant influence on transition in the metropolitan region. The peak sport entry age with the highest rates of transition was 7-9 years. Conclusions: This study demonstrated that whilst the majority of female participants continued participantion and tranisitioned from the modified sport program and into club competition, the strongest correlate of transition was age of entry, with transition rate peaking among those who commenced at age 7-9 years. It is recommended that, in order to maximise continued participation, sport policy and strategic developments should consider the possibility that targeting the very young is not the optimum recruitment strategy for fostering continued sport participation. © 2018 The Author(s).
Implementing injury surveillance systems alongside injury prevention programs: evaluation of an online surveillance system in a community setting
- Ekegren, Christina, Donaldson, Alex, Gabbe, Belinda, Finch, Caroline
- Authors: Ekegren, Christina , Donaldson, Alex , Gabbe, Belinda , Finch, Caroline
- Date: 2014
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Injury Epidemiology Vol. 1, no. 1 (2014), p. 1-15
- Relation: http://purl.org/au-research/grants/nhmrc/565900
- Relation: http://purl.org/au-research/grants/nhmrc/1058737
- Relation: http://purl.org/au-research/grants/nhmrc/565907
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- Description: BACKGROUND:Previous research aimed at improving injury surveillance standards has focused mainly on issues of data quality rather than upon the implementation of surveillance systems. There are numerous settings where injury surveillance is not mandatory and having a better understanding of the barriers to conducting injury surveillance would lead to improved implementation strategies. One such setting is community sport, where a lack of available epidemiological data has impaired efforts to reduce injury. This study aimed to i) evaluate use of an injury surveillance system following delivery of an implementation strategy; and ii) investigate factors influencing the implementation of the system in community sports clubs. METHODS:A total of 78 clubs were targeted for implementation of an online injury surveillance system (approximately 4000 athletes) in five community Australian football leagues concurrently enrolled in a pragmatic trial of an injury prevention program called FootyFirst. System implementation was evaluated quantitatively, using the RE-AIM framework, and qualitatively, via semi-structured interviews with targeted-users. RESULTS:Across the 78 clubs, there was 69% reach, 44% adoption, 23% implementation and 9% maintenance. Reach and adoption were highest in those leagues receiving concurrent support for the delivery of FootyFirst. Targeted-users identified several barriers and facilitators to implementation including personal (e.g. belief in the importance of injury surveillance), socio-contextual (e.g. understaffing and athlete underreporting) and systems factors (e.g. the time taken to upload injury data into the online system). CONCLUSIONS:The injury surveillance system was implemented and maintained by a small proportion of clubs. Outcomes were best in those leagues receiving concurrent support for the delivery of FootyFirst, suggesting that engagement with personnel at all levels can enhance uptake of surveillance systems. Interview findings suggest that increased uptake could also be achieved by educating club personnel on the importance of recording injuries, developing clearer injury surveillance guidelines, increasing club staffing and better remunerating those who conduct surveillance, as well as offering flexible surveillance systems in a range of accessible formats. By increasing the usage of surveillance systems, data will better represent the target population and increase our understanding of the injury problem, and how to prevent it, in specific settings.
- Authors: Ekegren, Christina , Donaldson, Alex , Gabbe, Belinda , Finch, Caroline
- Date: 2014
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Injury Epidemiology Vol. 1, no. 1 (2014), p. 1-15
- Relation: http://purl.org/au-research/grants/nhmrc/565900
- Relation: http://purl.org/au-research/grants/nhmrc/1058737
- Relation: http://purl.org/au-research/grants/nhmrc/565907
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: BACKGROUND:Previous research aimed at improving injury surveillance standards has focused mainly on issues of data quality rather than upon the implementation of surveillance systems. There are numerous settings where injury surveillance is not mandatory and having a better understanding of the barriers to conducting injury surveillance would lead to improved implementation strategies. One such setting is community sport, where a lack of available epidemiological data has impaired efforts to reduce injury. This study aimed to i) evaluate use of an injury surveillance system following delivery of an implementation strategy; and ii) investigate factors influencing the implementation of the system in community sports clubs. METHODS:A total of 78 clubs were targeted for implementation of an online injury surveillance system (approximately 4000 athletes) in five community Australian football leagues concurrently enrolled in a pragmatic trial of an injury prevention program called FootyFirst. System implementation was evaluated quantitatively, using the RE-AIM framework, and qualitatively, via semi-structured interviews with targeted-users. RESULTS:Across the 78 clubs, there was 69% reach, 44% adoption, 23% implementation and 9% maintenance. Reach and adoption were highest in those leagues receiving concurrent support for the delivery of FootyFirst. Targeted-users identified several barriers and facilitators to implementation including personal (e.g. belief in the importance of injury surveillance), socio-contextual (e.g. understaffing and athlete underreporting) and systems factors (e.g. the time taken to upload injury data into the online system). CONCLUSIONS:The injury surveillance system was implemented and maintained by a small proportion of clubs. Outcomes were best in those leagues receiving concurrent support for the delivery of FootyFirst, suggesting that engagement with personnel at all levels can enhance uptake of surveillance systems. Interview findings suggest that increased uptake could also be achieved by educating club personnel on the importance of recording injuries, developing clearer injury surveillance guidelines, increasing club staffing and better remunerating those who conduct surveillance, as well as offering flexible surveillance systems in a range of accessible formats. By increasing the usage of surveillance systems, data will better represent the target population and increase our understanding of the injury problem, and how to prevent it, in specific settings.
Validating a self-report measure of student athletes' perceived stress reactivity : associations with heart-rate variability and stress appraisals
- Britton, Darren, Kavanagh, Emma, Polman, Remco
- Authors: Britton, Darren , Kavanagh, Emma , Polman, Remco
- Date: 2019
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Frontiers in Psychology Vol. 10, no. MAY (2019), p.
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- Description: Student athletes experience multiple stressors relating to both their sporting and academic commitments. Individual differences play a significant role in how well student athletes cope with the demands they face. When assessing individual differences in stress reactivity, there are a lack of valid alternatives to costly and time-consuming lab-based physiological methods (e.g., cortisol sampling, cardiac variables). This paper aims to further validate a self-report measure of adolescent athletes' individual differences in perceived stress reactivity, by comparing to a psycho-physiological measure of emotion regulation (heart-rate variability) assessed during a socially evaluated cold pressor test. 30 student athletes and 31 student non-athletes completed a measure of perceived stress reactivity and took part in the socially evaluated cold pressor test while their heart-rate variability was assessed, along with their self-reported appraisals of stress, pain, and unpleasantness experienced during the procedure. Controlling for gender and athleticism, individual differences in perceived stress reactivity showed no associations with tonic or phasic levels of heart-rate variability. However, perceived stress reactivity was associated with levels of self-reported stress, pain, and unpleasantness experienced during the socially evaluated cold pressor test. These findings therefore suggest that perceived stress reactivity is associated with cognitive responses to stress (i.e., stress appraisals). However, further research is needed to confirm its relationship with physiological measures and responses. This further adds to the understanding of perceived stress reactivity, and validity of the perceived stress reactivity scale for adolescent athletes. © 2019 Britton, Kavanagh and Polman.
- Authors: Britton, Darren , Kavanagh, Emma , Polman, Remco
- Date: 2019
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Frontiers in Psychology Vol. 10, no. MAY (2019), p.
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Student athletes experience multiple stressors relating to both their sporting and academic commitments. Individual differences play a significant role in how well student athletes cope with the demands they face. When assessing individual differences in stress reactivity, there are a lack of valid alternatives to costly and time-consuming lab-based physiological methods (e.g., cortisol sampling, cardiac variables). This paper aims to further validate a self-report measure of adolescent athletes' individual differences in perceived stress reactivity, by comparing to a psycho-physiological measure of emotion regulation (heart-rate variability) assessed during a socially evaluated cold pressor test. 30 student athletes and 31 student non-athletes completed a measure of perceived stress reactivity and took part in the socially evaluated cold pressor test while their heart-rate variability was assessed, along with their self-reported appraisals of stress, pain, and unpleasantness experienced during the procedure. Controlling for gender and athleticism, individual differences in perceived stress reactivity showed no associations with tonic or phasic levels of heart-rate variability. However, perceived stress reactivity was associated with levels of self-reported stress, pain, and unpleasantness experienced during the socially evaluated cold pressor test. These findings therefore suggest that perceived stress reactivity is associated with cognitive responses to stress (i.e., stress appraisals). However, further research is needed to confirm its relationship with physiological measures and responses. This further adds to the understanding of perceived stress reactivity, and validity of the perceived stress reactivity scale for adolescent athletes. © 2019 Britton, Kavanagh and Polman.
Ernabella Rules football : Australian Rules football at the Ernabella Mission, 1937-1974
- Authors: Beck, Adam
- Date: 2023
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: The experience of sport for First Nations peoples on missions and government settlements in Australia, and on comparable missions in other settler colonial societies, has become a growing field of scholarly study. This thesis aims to build on insights from current sports historiography by examining the origins and significance of Australian Rules football to the people of the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands in the far northwest of South Australia. In particular, it investigates their historical engagement with the game at the Ernabella mission (now known as Pukatja) during the years of its operation from 1937 to 1974. It traces the spread of the game from Ernabella to other nearby communities in the 1960s and investigates the conception that football originated in the town of Alice Springs during the Second World War and gradually spread outward into the hinterland where most Aboriginal people lived. Based on ethnographic fieldwork conducted on the APY Lands, this thesis draws on Anangu oral histories, and a careful examination of local historical materials and photographs held in the Ara Irititja Archive to produce detailed descriptions and portrayals of Australian football at the Ernabella mission from the perspectives of those who lived, worked and played the game at the mission. It argues that a focus on the agency of Anangu at Ernabella is crucial to understanding how the game of Australian football took off and became embedded in local society and culture.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
- Authors: Beck, Adam
- Date: 2023
- Type: Text , Thesis , PhD
- Full Text:
- Description: The experience of sport for First Nations peoples on missions and government settlements in Australia, and on comparable missions in other settler colonial societies, has become a growing field of scholarly study. This thesis aims to build on insights from current sports historiography by examining the origins and significance of Australian Rules football to the people of the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands in the far northwest of South Australia. In particular, it investigates their historical engagement with the game at the Ernabella mission (now known as Pukatja) during the years of its operation from 1937 to 1974. It traces the spread of the game from Ernabella to other nearby communities in the 1960s and investigates the conception that football originated in the town of Alice Springs during the Second World War and gradually spread outward into the hinterland where most Aboriginal people lived. Based on ethnographic fieldwork conducted on the APY Lands, this thesis draws on Anangu oral histories, and a careful examination of local historical materials and photographs held in the Ara Irititja Archive to produce detailed descriptions and portrayals of Australian football at the Ernabella mission from the perspectives of those who lived, worked and played the game at the mission. It argues that a focus on the agency of Anangu at Ernabella is crucial to understanding how the game of Australian football took off and became embedded in local society and culture.
- Description: Doctor of Philosophy
- Van der Smee, Cameron, McDonald, Brent, Spaaij, Ramon
- Authors: Van der Smee, Cameron , McDonald, Brent , Spaaij, Ramon
- Date: 2022
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Sport, Education and Society Vol. 29, no. 1 (2022), p. 27-41
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: The drop off in physical activity (PA) for children has led to an increased focus on their PA engagement, due to the poor health outcomes often linked to this decline. Subsequently, stakeholders, across a variety of fields, have problematised and intervened in activity settings to address this decline. Many of these studies acknowledge high levels of activity in the primary years and tend to prioritise their efforts on the adolescent years. An important limitation in these studies is that they greatly overlook how a decline might also be related to children’s physical engagement in early childhood. To gain more insight on the role that early PA engagement may play in long-term PA participation, this paper examines early physical engagement through a focus on year one/ two students across three PA spaces–the home, the physical education (PE) class and the playground. Data was collected through a range of ethnographic and child-centred methods and examined using a Bourdieusian lens. This analysis shows that engagement in PA starts as a confluence between the physically active habitus, sport-focused PE and the sportised playground, which produces different patterns of engagement. This paper offers an in-depth examination of this process across the three spaces and identifies how these outcomes become habitualised over the course of primary school, which may play a role in affecting long-term participation. The paper concludes with a call for a more democratised approach to early primary PE, along with accompanying changes to the playground. © 2022 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.
Adiposity as a risk factor for sport injury in youth : a systematic review
- Toomey, Clodagh, Whittaker, Jackie, Richmond, Sarah, Owoeye, Oluwatoyosi, Patton, Declan, Emery, Carolyn
- Authors: Toomey, Clodagh , Whittaker, Jackie , Richmond, Sarah , Owoeye, Oluwatoyosi , Patton, Declan , Emery, Carolyn
- Date: 2022
- Type: Text , Journal article , Review
- Relation: Clinical Journal of Sport Medicine Vol. 32, no. 4 (2022), p. 418-426
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: Objective: To determine whether high or low adiposity is associated with youth sport-related injury.Data Sources: Ten electronic databases were searched to identify prospective studies examining the association between adiposity [body mass index (BMI) or body fat] and a future time-loss or medical attention sport-related musculoskeletal injury or concussion in youth aged 20 years and younger. Two independent raters assessed the quality (Downs and Black criteria) and risk of bias (Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Tool). Random-effects meta-analyses were used to calculate pooled odds ratio [95% confidence interval (CI)] of injury.Main Results: Of 11 424 potentially relevant records, 38 articles were included with 17 eligible for meta-analyses. In qualitative synthesis, no clear association was identified between adiposity and any sport injury; however, 16/22 studies identified high adiposity as a significant risk factor for lower-extremity injury. Meta-analyses revealed higher BMI in youth with any sport-related injury and lower BMI in youth who developed a bone stress injury (BSI) compared with noninjured controls. The pooled OR (95% CI) examining the association of BMI and injury risk (excluding bone injury) was 1.18 (95% CI: 1.03-1.34). A major source of bias in included articles was inconsistent adjustment for age, sex, and physical activity participation.Conclusions: Level 2b evidence suggests that high BMI is associated with greater risk of youth sport injury, particularly lower-extremity injury and excluding BSI or fracture. Although pooled mean differences were low, anthropometric risk of injury seems to be dependent on type and site of injury in youth sport. © 2021 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.
The translation of sports injury prevention and safety promotion knowledge : Insights from key intermediary organisations
- Bekker, Sheree, Paliadelis, Penny, Finch, Caroline
- Authors: Bekker, Sheree , Paliadelis, Penny , Finch, Caroline
- Date: 2017
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Health Research Policy and Systems Vol. 15, no. 1 (2017), p. 1-9
- Relation: http://purl.org/au-research/grants/nhmrc/565907
- Relation: http://purl.org/au-research/grants/nhmrc/1058737
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Background: A recognised research-to-practice gap exists in the health research field of sports injury prevention and safety promotion. There is a need for improved insight into increasing the relevancy, accessibility and legitimacy of injury prevention and safety promotion research knowledge for sport settings. The role of key organisations as intermediaries in the process of health knowledge translation for sports settings remains under-explored, and this paper aims to determine, and describe, the processes of knowledge translation undertaken by a set of key organisations in developing and distributing injury prevention and safety promotion resources. Methods: The National Guidance for Australian Football Partnerships and Safety (NoGAPS) project provided the context for this study. Representatives from five key NoGAPS organisations participated in individual face-to-face interviews about organisational processes of knowledge translation. A qualitative descriptive methodology was used to analyse participants' descriptions of knowledge translation activities undertaken at their respective organisations. Results: Several themes emerged around health knowledge translation processes and considerations, including (1) identifying a need for knowledge translation, (2) developing and disseminating resources, and (3) barriers and enablers to knowledge translation. Conclusions: This study provides insight into the processes that key organisations employ when developing and disseminating injury prevention and safety promotion resources within sport settings. The relevancy, accessibility and legitimacy of health research knowledge is foregrounded, with a view to increasing the influence of research on the development of health-related resources suitable for community sport settings. © 2017 The Author(s).
- Authors: Bekker, Sheree , Paliadelis, Penny , Finch, Caroline
- Date: 2017
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Health Research Policy and Systems Vol. 15, no. 1 (2017), p. 1-9
- Relation: http://purl.org/au-research/grants/nhmrc/565907
- Relation: http://purl.org/au-research/grants/nhmrc/1058737
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Background: A recognised research-to-practice gap exists in the health research field of sports injury prevention and safety promotion. There is a need for improved insight into increasing the relevancy, accessibility and legitimacy of injury prevention and safety promotion research knowledge for sport settings. The role of key organisations as intermediaries in the process of health knowledge translation for sports settings remains under-explored, and this paper aims to determine, and describe, the processes of knowledge translation undertaken by a set of key organisations in developing and distributing injury prevention and safety promotion resources. Methods: The National Guidance for Australian Football Partnerships and Safety (NoGAPS) project provided the context for this study. Representatives from five key NoGAPS organisations participated in individual face-to-face interviews about organisational processes of knowledge translation. A qualitative descriptive methodology was used to analyse participants' descriptions of knowledge translation activities undertaken at their respective organisations. Results: Several themes emerged around health knowledge translation processes and considerations, including (1) identifying a need for knowledge translation, (2) developing and disseminating resources, and (3) barriers and enablers to knowledge translation. Conclusions: This study provides insight into the processes that key organisations employ when developing and disseminating injury prevention and safety promotion resources within sport settings. The relevancy, accessibility and legitimacy of health research knowledge is foregrounded, with a view to increasing the influence of research on the development of health-related resources suitable for community sport settings. © 2017 The Author(s).
What are the most effective risk-reduction strategies in sport concussion?
- Benson, Brian, McIntosh, Andrew, Maddocks, David, Herring, Stanley, Raftery, Martin, Dvorak, Jiri
- Authors: Benson, Brian , McIntosh, Andrew , Maddocks, David , Herring, Stanley , Raftery, Martin , Dvorak, Jiri
- Date: 2013
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: British Journal of Sports Medicine Vol. 47, no. 5 (2013), p. 321-326
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: Aim To critically review the evidence to determine the efficacy and effectiveness of protective equipment, rule changes, neck strength and legislation in reducing sport concussion risk. Methods Electronic databases, grey literature and bibliographies were used to search the evidence using Medical Subject Headings and text words. Inclusion/ exclusion criteria were used to select articles for the clinical equipment studies. The quality of evidence was assessed using epidemiological criteria regarding internal/external validity (eg, strength of design, sample size/power, bias and confounding). Results No new valid, conclusive evidence was provided to suggest the use of headgear in rugby, or mouth guards in American football, significantly reduced players' risk of concussion. No evidence was provided to suggest an association between neck strength increases and concussion risk reduction. There was evidence in ice hockey to suggest fair-play rules and eliminating body checking among 11-years-olds to 12-years-olds were effective injury prevention strategies. Evidence is lacking on the effects of legislation on concussion prevention. Equipment self-selection bias was a common limitation, as was the lack of measurement and control for potential confounding variables. Lastly, helmets need to be able to protect from impacts resulting in a head change in velocities of up to 10 and 7 m/s in professional American and Australian football, respectively, as well as reduce head resultant linear and angular acceleration to below 50 g and 1500 rad/s2, respectively, to optimise their effectiveness. Conclusions A multifactorial approach is needed for concussion prevention. Future well-designed and sportspecific prospective analytical studies of sufficient power are warranted.
Use of field-based tests to identify risk factors for injury to fast bowlers in cricket
- Dennis, Rebecca, Finch, Caroline, McIntosh, Andrew, Elliott, Bruce
- Authors: Dennis, Rebecca , Finch, Caroline , McIntosh, Andrew , Elliott, Bruce
- Date: 2008
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: British Journal of Sports Medicine Vol. 42, no. 6 (Jun 2008), p. 477-482
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: Objective: To identify risk factors for injury to cricket fast bowlers using field-based tests. Design: Prospective cohort study. Setting: High performance Australian cricket. Participants: Ninety-one male adolescent and adult fast bowlers (aged 12-33 years). Assessment of risk factors: A field-based pre-participation screening, consisting of musculoskeletal, fitness and anthropometric assessments and analysis of bowling technique was undertaken. Bowlers were prospectively monitored over the 2003-4 season and bowling workload and injuries were recorded. Logistic regression was used to identify injury risk factors. Main outcome measurement: Repetitive microtrauma injury to the trunk, back or lower limb associated with fast bowling. Results: Two variables were identified as independent predictors of injury in the multivariate logistic regression analysis. Bowlers with hip internal rotation of <= 30 degrees on the leg ipsilateral to the bowling arm were at a significantly reduced risk of injury (OR 0.20, 95% CI 0.06 to 0.73) compared with bowlers with >40 degrees of rotation. Bowlers with an ankle dorsiflexion lunge of 12.1-14.0 cm on the leg contralateral to the bowling arm were at a significantly increased risk (OR 4.03, 95% CI 1.07 to 15.21) than bowlers with a lunge of >14 cm. Bowlers with a lunge of (12 cm were also at an increased risk, but not significantly so (OR 1.38, 95% CI 0.40 to 4.84). Conclusions: Biomechanical research is needed to investigate how these two intrinsic risk factors increase injury risk so that appropriate interventions can be developed.
Linking physical education with community sport and recreation : A program for adolescent girls
- Casey, Meghan, Mooney, Amanda, Eime, Rochelle, Harvey, Jack, Smyth, John, Telford, Amanda, Payne, Warren
- Authors: Casey, Meghan , Mooney, Amanda , Eime, Rochelle , Harvey, Jack , Smyth, John , Telford, Amanda , Payne, Warren
- Date: 2013
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Health Promotion Practice Vol. 14, no. 5 (2013), p. 721-731
- Relation: http://purl.org/au-research/grants/arc/LP0990206
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: The engagement of adolescent girls in physical activity (PA) is a persistent challenge. School-based PA programs have often met with little success because of the lack of linkages between school and community PA settings. The Triple G program aimed to improve PA levels of secondary school girls (12-15 years) in regional Victoria, Australia. The program included a school-based physical education (PE) component that uniquely incorporated student-centered teaching and behavioral skill development. The school component was conceptually and practically linked to a community component that emphasized appropriate structures for participation. The program was informed by ethnographic fieldwork to understand the contextual factors that affect girls' participation in PA. A collaborative intervention design was undertaken to align with PE curriculum and coaching and instructional approaches in community PA settings. The theoretical framework for the intervention was the socioecological model that was underpinned by both individual-level (social cognitive theory) and organizational-level (building organizational/community capacity) strategies. The program model provides an innovative conceptual framework for linking school PE with community sport and recreation and may benefit other PA programs seeking to engage adolescent girls. The objective of this article is to describe program development and the unique theoretical framework and curriculum approaches.
- Description: The engagement of adolescent girls in physical activity (PA) is a persistent challenge. School-based PA programs have often met with little success because of the lack of linkages between school and community PA settings. The Triple G program aimed to improve PA levels of secondary school girls (12-15 years) in regional Victoria, Australia. The program included a school-based physical education (PE) component that uniquely incorporated student-centered teaching and behavioral skill development. The school component was conceptually and practically linked to a community component that emphasized appropriate structures for participation. The program was informed by ethnographic fieldwork to understand the contextual factors that affect girls' participation in PA. A collaborative intervention design was undertaken to align with PE curriculum and coaching and instructional approaches in community PA settings. The theoretical framework for the intervention was the socioecological model that was underpinned by both individual-level (social cognitive theory) and organizational-level (building organizational/community capacity) strategies. The program model provides an innovative conceptual framework for linking school PE with community sport and recreation and may benefit other PA programs seeking to engage adolescent girls. The objective of this article is to describe program development and the unique theoretical framework and curriculum approaches. © 2012 Society for Public Health Education.
- Authors: Casey, Meghan , Mooney, Amanda , Eime, Rochelle , Harvey, Jack , Smyth, John , Telford, Amanda , Payne, Warren
- Date: 2013
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Health Promotion Practice Vol. 14, no. 5 (2013), p. 721-731
- Relation: http://purl.org/au-research/grants/arc/LP0990206
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: The engagement of adolescent girls in physical activity (PA) is a persistent challenge. School-based PA programs have often met with little success because of the lack of linkages between school and community PA settings. The Triple G program aimed to improve PA levels of secondary school girls (12-15 years) in regional Victoria, Australia. The program included a school-based physical education (PE) component that uniquely incorporated student-centered teaching and behavioral skill development. The school component was conceptually and practically linked to a community component that emphasized appropriate structures for participation. The program was informed by ethnographic fieldwork to understand the contextual factors that affect girls' participation in PA. A collaborative intervention design was undertaken to align with PE curriculum and coaching and instructional approaches in community PA settings. The theoretical framework for the intervention was the socioecological model that was underpinned by both individual-level (social cognitive theory) and organizational-level (building organizational/community capacity) strategies. The program model provides an innovative conceptual framework for linking school PE with community sport and recreation and may benefit other PA programs seeking to engage adolescent girls. The objective of this article is to describe program development and the unique theoretical framework and curriculum approaches.
- Description: The engagement of adolescent girls in physical activity (PA) is a persistent challenge. School-based PA programs have often met with little success because of the lack of linkages between school and community PA settings. The Triple G program aimed to improve PA levels of secondary school girls (12-15 years) in regional Victoria, Australia. The program included a school-based physical education (PE) component that uniquely incorporated student-centered teaching and behavioral skill development. The school component was conceptually and practically linked to a community component that emphasized appropriate structures for participation. The program was informed by ethnographic fieldwork to understand the contextual factors that affect girls' participation in PA. A collaborative intervention design was undertaken to align with PE curriculum and coaching and instructional approaches in community PA settings. The theoretical framework for the intervention was the socioecological model that was underpinned by both individual-level (social cognitive theory) and organizational-level (building organizational/community capacity) strategies. The program model provides an innovative conceptual framework for linking school PE with community sport and recreation and may benefit other PA programs seeking to engage adolescent girls. The objective of this article is to describe program development and the unique theoretical framework and curriculum approaches. © 2012 Society for Public Health Education.
Codes Combined : managing expectations and policy responses to racism in sport
- Reeves, Keir, Ponsford, Megan, Gorman, Sean
- Authors: Reeves, Keir , Ponsford, Megan , Gorman, Sean
- Date: 2015
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Sport in Society Vol. 18, no. 5 (2015), p. 519-528
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: This article is a transnational comparative discussion that interrogates responses, particularly formal policy frameworks, to addressing racial vilification in sport. Themes interrogated include racism in sport, sport as an agent for social change, diversity in sport, sport and community harmony, sport and ethnicity, and sport and education. Emphasis is placed on the importance of education as a plank in formal policy responses to addressing on- and off-field racism in elite sport. The article also examines how education is important in enabling greater social participation among groups. National and transnational discussions about respective footballing codes are located within a broader international context by way of comparison with other elite sports. © 2014, Taylor & Francis.
When 'just doing it' is not enough: Assessing the fidelity of player performance of an injury prevention exercise program
- Fortington, Lauren, Donaldson, Alex, Lathlean, Tim, Young, Warren, Gabbe, Belinda, Lloyd, David, Finch, Caroline
- Authors: Fortington, Lauren , Donaldson, Alex , Lathlean, Tim , Young, Warren , Gabbe, Belinda , Lloyd, David , Finch, Caroline
- Date: 2014
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport Vol. 18, no. 3 (May 2014 2014), p.272-277
- Relation: http://purl.org/au-research/grants/nhmrc/565907
- Relation: http://purl.org/au-research/grants/nhmrc/1058737
- Relation: http://purl.org/au-research/grants/nhmrc/565900
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Objectives: To obtain benefits from sports injury prevention programs, players are instructed to perform the exercises as prescribed. We developed an observational checklist to measure the quality of exercise performance by players participating in FootyFirst, a coach-led, exercise-based, lower-limb injury prevention program in community Australian Football (AF). Design: Observational. Methods: The essential performance criteria for each FootyFirst exercise were described in terms of the technique, volume and intensity required to perform each exercise. An observational checklist was developed to evaluate each criterion through direct visual observation of players at training. The checklist was trialled by two independent raters who observed the same 70 players completing the exercises at eight clubs. Agreement between observers was assessed by Kappa-statistics. Exercise fidelity was defined as the proportion of observed players who performed all aspects of their exercises correctly. Results: The raters agreed on 61/70 observations (87%) (Kappa = 0.72, 95% CI: 0.55; 0.89). Of the observations with agreed ratings, 41 (67%) players were judged as performing the exercises as prescribed. Conclusions: The observational checklist demonstrated high inter-rater reliability. Many players observed did not perform the exercises as prescribed, raising concern as to whether they would be receiving anticipated program benefits. Where quality of exercise performance is important, evaluation and reporting of program fidelity should include direct observations of participants.
- Authors: Fortington, Lauren , Donaldson, Alex , Lathlean, Tim , Young, Warren , Gabbe, Belinda , Lloyd, David , Finch, Caroline
- Date: 2014
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport Vol. 18, no. 3 (May 2014 2014), p.272-277
- Relation: http://purl.org/au-research/grants/nhmrc/565907
- Relation: http://purl.org/au-research/grants/nhmrc/1058737
- Relation: http://purl.org/au-research/grants/nhmrc/565900
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Objectives: To obtain benefits from sports injury prevention programs, players are instructed to perform the exercises as prescribed. We developed an observational checklist to measure the quality of exercise performance by players participating in FootyFirst, a coach-led, exercise-based, lower-limb injury prevention program in community Australian Football (AF). Design: Observational. Methods: The essential performance criteria for each FootyFirst exercise were described in terms of the technique, volume and intensity required to perform each exercise. An observational checklist was developed to evaluate each criterion through direct visual observation of players at training. The checklist was trialled by two independent raters who observed the same 70 players completing the exercises at eight clubs. Agreement between observers was assessed by Kappa-statistics. Exercise fidelity was defined as the proportion of observed players who performed all aspects of their exercises correctly. Results: The raters agreed on 61/70 observations (87%) (Kappa = 0.72, 95% CI: 0.55; 0.89). Of the observations with agreed ratings, 41 (67%) players were judged as performing the exercises as prescribed. Conclusions: The observational checklist demonstrated high inter-rater reliability. Many players observed did not perform the exercises as prescribed, raising concern as to whether they would be receiving anticipated program benefits. Where quality of exercise performance is important, evaluation and reporting of program fidelity should include direct observations of participants.
Sport in the lives of young Australians
- Authors: Light, Richard
- Date: 2008
- Type: Text , Book
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: What does sport mean to young people in Australia? How does it affect their social, personal, moral and physical growth and development? What is the relationship between elite level 'media-sport' and the range of informal games children play for fun and friendship? Can children learn how to play fairly, when televised sport shows them that hurting opponents and 'bending the rules' are not only acceptable but celebrated as part of the game? Sport in the lives of young Australians offers an informative look into the practice of sport, the nature of children's and young people's experiences of it, and the significance of this for their development. Drawing on original close-focus studies conducted in schools and sports clubs in Australia, it provides valuable insight into youth sport from the perspective of the children and young people engaged in it. Recent advocacy for physical education and sport has highlighted their benefits in the fight against lifestyle diseases, but the research presented in this book reminds us not to lose sight of the other ways in which they contribute to the development of young people. The book also examines new approaches to teaching and coaching and the possibilities they offer for improving children's experiences of sport and physical education. For anyone involved in youth sport - from coaches, teachers and parents, to researchers and policy-makers - this book will provide invaluable understanding of the place and meaning of sport in the lives of young Australians
Back to basics with some new tools : First ensure the safety of sporting environments
- Finch, Caroline, Brown, James, Readhead, Clint, Lambert, Mike, Viljoen, Wayne
- Authors: Finch, Caroline , Brown, James , Readhead, Clint , Lambert, Mike , Viljoen, Wayne
- Date: 2017
- Type: Text , Journal article , Editorial
- Relation: British Journal of Sports Medicine Vol. 51, no. 15 (2017), p. 1109-1110
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Patton, Declan, McIntosh, Andrew, Kleiven, Svein
- Authors: Patton, Declan , McIntosh, Andrew , Kleiven, Svein
- Date: 2015
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Journal of Applied Biomechanics Vol. 31, no. 4 (2015), p. 264-268
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: Biomechanical studies of concussions have progressed from qualitative observations of head impacts to physical and numerical reconstructions, direct impact measurements, and finite element analyses. Supplementary to a previous study, which investigated maximum principal strain, the current study used a detailed finite element head model to simulate unhelmeted concussion and no-injury head impacts and evaluate the effectiveness of various tissue-level brain injury predictors: strain rate, product of strain and strain rate, cumulative strain damage measure, von Mises stress, and intracranial pressure. Von Mises stress was found to be the most effective predictor of concussion. It was also found that the thalamus and corpus callosum were brain regions with strong associations with concussion. Tentative tolerance limits for tissue-level predictors were proposed in an attempt to broaden the understanding of unhelmeted concussions. For the thalamus, tolerance limits were proposed for a 50% likelihood of concussion: 2.24 kPa, 24.0 s-1, and 2.49 s-1 for von Mises stress, strain rate, and the product of strain and strain rate, respectively. For the corpus callosum, tolerance limits were proposed for a 50% likelihood of concussion: 3.51 kPa, 25.1 s-1, and 2.76 s-1 for von Mises stress, strain rate, and the product of strain and strain rate, respectively. © 2015 Human Kinetics, Inc.
Examining the impact of school esports program participation on student health and psychological development
- Trotter, Michael, Coulter, Tristan, Davis, Paul, Poulus, Dylan, Polman, Remco
- Authors: Trotter, Michael , Coulter, Tristan , Davis, Paul , Poulus, Dylan , Polman, Remco
- Date: 2022
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Frontiers in Psychology Vol. 12, no. (2022), p.
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: This study examined the influence of 7 high school esports developmental programs on student self-regulation, growth mindset, positive youth development (PYD), perceived general health and physical activity (PA), and sport behaviour. A total of 188 students (male n = 120; female n = 68) originally participated (89 enrolled in an esports program in their school and 99 acted as aged-matched controls), with 58 participants (n = 19 esports group; n = 39 controls) completing both pre- and post-program information. At baseline, no significant differences were found between youth e-athletes and their aged-matched controls. The analysis for the observation period showed a significant interaction effect for the PYD confidence scale, with post-hoc comparisons showing a significant decrease in the control group from pre- to post assessment whereas the esports group remained the same. Time main effects showed a decrease in the self-regulation motivation factor, PYD connection factor and PA for all participants. Overall, this study showed that students enrolled in their respective school esports program did not differ from those who did not in self-regulation, growth mindset, PYD, perceived health and PA, and sport behaviour. It was likely that all participants showed a decrease in motivation, connection, and PA due to COVID19 lockdown during the study period. This study is the first to investigate the longitudinal impact of student involvement in high school esports and showed that esports participation did not have a negative impact on any health or psychological factors. Copyright © 2022 Trotter, Coulter, Davis, Poulus and Polman.
- Authors: Trotter, Michael , Coulter, Tristan , Davis, Paul , Poulus, Dylan , Polman, Remco
- Date: 2022
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Frontiers in Psychology Vol. 12, no. (2022), p.
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: This study examined the influence of 7 high school esports developmental programs on student self-regulation, growth mindset, positive youth development (PYD), perceived general health and physical activity (PA), and sport behaviour. A total of 188 students (male n = 120; female n = 68) originally participated (89 enrolled in an esports program in their school and 99 acted as aged-matched controls), with 58 participants (n = 19 esports group; n = 39 controls) completing both pre- and post-program information. At baseline, no significant differences were found between youth e-athletes and their aged-matched controls. The analysis for the observation period showed a significant interaction effect for the PYD confidence scale, with post-hoc comparisons showing a significant decrease in the control group from pre- to post assessment whereas the esports group remained the same. Time main effects showed a decrease in the self-regulation motivation factor, PYD connection factor and PA for all participants. Overall, this study showed that students enrolled in their respective school esports program did not differ from those who did not in self-regulation, growth mindset, PYD, perceived health and PA, and sport behaviour. It was likely that all participants showed a decrease in motivation, connection, and PA due to COVID19 lockdown during the study period. This study is the first to investigate the longitudinal impact of student involvement in high school esports and showed that esports participation did not have a negative impact on any health or psychological factors. Copyright © 2022 Trotter, Coulter, Davis, Poulus and Polman.
- van Reijen, Miriam, Vriend, Ingrid, Zuidema, Victor, van Mechelen, Willem, Verhagen, Evert
- Authors: van Reijen, Miriam , Vriend, Ingrid , Zuidema, Victor , van Mechelen, Willem , Verhagen, Evert
- Date: 2016
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: British Journal of Sports Medicine Vol. 50, no. 19 (2016), p. 1200-1205
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: Background: E-health has the potential to facilitate implementation of effective measures to prevent sports injuries. Aim: We evaluated whether an interactive mobile application containing a proven effective exercise programme to prevent recurrent ankle sprains resulted in higher compliance as compared with regular written exercise materials. Methods: 220 athletes participated in this randomised controlled trial with a follow-up of 8 weeks; 110 athletes received a booklet explaining an 8-week neuromuscular training programme; 110 athletes participated in the same programme in an interactive mobile App (Strengthen your ankle). The primary outcome was compliance with the exercise programme. Secondary outcome measure was the incidence density of self-reported recurrent ankle sprains. Results: The mean compliance to the exercise scheme was 73.3% (95% CI 67.7% to 78.1%) in the App group, compared with 76.7% (95% CI 71.9% to 82.3%) in the Booklet group. No significant difference in compliance was found between groups. The incidence densities of self-reported time-loss recurrences were not significantly different between both groups (HR 3.07; 95% CI 0.62 to 15.20). Summary: This study shows that the method of implementing the exercises by using an App or a Booklet does not lead to different compliance rates. New findings: The use of a mobile App or a Booklet lead to similar compliance and injury rates in the short term. Trial registration number: The Netherlands National Trial Register NTR 4027. The NTR is part of the WHO Primary Registries. © 2016, BMJ Publishing Group. All rights reserved.
The effectiveness of online mental health first aid training in community rugby : a mixed-methods approach
- Russell, Suzanna, Kelly, Vincent, Polman, Remco, Warren-James, Matthew
- Authors: Russell, Suzanna , Kelly, Vincent , Polman, Remco , Warren-James, Matthew
- Date: 2023
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health Vol. 20, no. 7 (2023), p.
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training exists to improve supportive behaviours towards peers, increase mental health literacy, and reduce stigma. Community sport clubs have potential to successfully deliver mental health programs. This study investigated the effectiveness of online MHFA training undertaken by members of the rugby community and evaluated the feasibility and usefulness of the online delivery mode and users’ engagement with it. A mixed-methods approach was used to provide depth of understanding through qualitative analysis, combined with quantitative outcomes. Online surveys examining participants’ knowledge and perceptions were administered pre- and post-MHFA training. Significant improvements (p < 0.05) across all assessed domains were observed post- compared to pre-MHFA training. A large effect size was identified in relation to advice giving and sign and symptom identification. A moderate effect size pre- to post-improvement was identified for users’ perceptions of therapy’s effectiveness, the ability of people with severe mental health conditions to recover, and benefit of a healthcare professional. Participants endorsed the MHFA program to improve mental health literacy, advance non-technical skills, and improve confidence. MHFA training can increase the awareness and knowledge of mental health issues in key individuals in community sport clubs and enable them to aid people with mental health concerns. Online MHFA training is associated with improved mental health literacy and may be a suitable and economically sustainable model for community sport. © 2023 by the authors.
- Authors: Russell, Suzanna , Kelly, Vincent , Polman, Remco , Warren-James, Matthew
- Date: 2023
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health Vol. 20, no. 7 (2023), p.
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training exists to improve supportive behaviours towards peers, increase mental health literacy, and reduce stigma. Community sport clubs have potential to successfully deliver mental health programs. This study investigated the effectiveness of online MHFA training undertaken by members of the rugby community and evaluated the feasibility and usefulness of the online delivery mode and users’ engagement with it. A mixed-methods approach was used to provide depth of understanding through qualitative analysis, combined with quantitative outcomes. Online surveys examining participants’ knowledge and perceptions were administered pre- and post-MHFA training. Significant improvements (p < 0.05) across all assessed domains were observed post- compared to pre-MHFA training. A large effect size was identified in relation to advice giving and sign and symptom identification. A moderate effect size pre- to post-improvement was identified for users’ perceptions of therapy’s effectiveness, the ability of people with severe mental health conditions to recover, and benefit of a healthcare professional. Participants endorsed the MHFA program to improve mental health literacy, advance non-technical skills, and improve confidence. MHFA training can increase the awareness and knowledge of mental health issues in key individuals in community sport clubs and enable them to aid people with mental health concerns. Online MHFA training is associated with improved mental health literacy and may be a suitable and economically sustainable model for community sport. © 2023 by the authors.