Article Text
Abstract
Objectives We evaluated the implementation of Prep-to-Play PRO, an injury prevention programme for women’s elite Australian Football League (AFLW).
Methods The Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation and Maintenance (RE-AIM) of Prep-to-Play PRO were assessed based on the proportion of AFLW players and/or staff who: were aware of the programme (R), believed it may reduce anterior cruciate ligament injury (E), attempted to implement any/all programme components (A), implemented all intended components as practically as possible (I) and intended future programme implementation (M). Quantitative and qualitative data were triangulated to assess 58 RE-AIM items (evidence of yes/no/unsure/no evidence) and the 5 RE-AIM dimensions (fully achieved=evidence of yes on >50% dimension items, partially achieved=50% of items evidence of yes and 50% unsure or 50% mix of unsure and unanswered, or not met=evidence of yes on <50% dimension items).
Results Multiple sources including AFLW training observations (n=7 total), post-implementation surveys (141 players, 25 staff), semistructured interviews (19 players, 13 staff) and internal programme records (9 staff) contributed to the RE-AIM assessment. After the 2019 season, 8 of 10 (80%) AFLW clubs fully met all five RE-AIM dimensions. All 10 clubs participating in the AFLW fully achieved the reach (R) dimension. One club partially achieved the implementation (I) dimension, and one club partially achieved the effectiveness (E) and adoption (A) dimensions.
Conclusion The Prep-to-Play PRO injury prevention programme for the AFLW achieved high implementation, possibly due to the programme’s deliberately flexible approach coupled with our pragmatic definition of implementation. Engaging key stakeholders at multiple ecological levels (organisation, coaches, athletes) throughout programme development and implementation likely enhanced programme implementation.
- Female
- Sport
- Rehabilitation
- Knee injuries
- Sports medicine
Data availability statement
Data are available upon reasonable request. The data are not publicly available due to privacy or ethical restrictions.
Statistics from Altmetric.com
Data availability statement
Data are available upon reasonable request. The data are not publicly available due to privacy or ethical restrictions.
Footnotes
Twitter @AndreaBruder, @Knee_Howells, @kaymcrossley, @AndreaBMosler, @melhabphysio, @MHgglund, @agculvenor, @PhysioHill, @AlexDonaldson13
Contributors AMB, AD, KMC and BEP conceived and planned the study. AMB, ABM, KMC, BEP and AD designed the interview guide and survey with feedback from MH. AMB led the evaluation of Prep-to-Play PRO, with support from MJH and BEP to recruit players and staff. AMB, SMC, ABM and AGC conducted the interviews. MJH and AMB extracted evidence for analysis. BEP and AD rated the evidence against each RE-AIM dimension. AMB drafted the initial manuscript, analysed the data and is guarantor of the study. All authors contributed to early drafts of the manuscript and have read and approved the final version of the manuscript and agree with the order authors are presented.
Funding This work was supported by an Australian Football League Research Board Grant (2018) and La Trobe University Research Focus Area Grant (2018). ABM was supported by a National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Early Career Fellowship (no. 1156674); and AGC is a recipient of an NHMRC of Australia Investigator Grant (GNT2008523). For the purposes of open access, the author has applied a CC BY public copyright licence to any Author Accepted Manuscript version arising from this submission.
Disclaimer The funding bodies had no role in the study design or in data collection, analysis and interpretation.
Competing interests AGC and MH are associate editors of BJSM. ABM is a deputy editor and KMC a senior advisor of BJSM. AGC is an associate editor of Osteoarthritis and Cartilage. KMC, AMB, ABM, BEP, SMC and AD have received research grants from the Australian Football League (AFL). BEP is a past elite athlete and past assistant coach at an AFLW club. MJH is a current physiotherapist at an AFLW club. All other authors declare no competing interests.
Patient and public involvement Patients and/or the public were involved in the design, or conduct, or reporting, or dissemination plans of this research. Refer to the Methods section for further details.
Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.
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