Translational Behavioral Medicine Advance Access

Enhancing adapted physical activity training for community organizations: co-construction and evaluation of training modules

Fri, 29 Nov 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Abstract

Community-based physical activity programmes benefit persons with disabilities. However, there is a lack of evidence-based tools to support kinesiologists’ training in such programmes. This study aimed to co-create and evaluate physical activity training modules for community-based adapted physical activity (APA) programmes. In Phase 1, a working group (n = 8) consisting of staff, kinesiologists from two community-based APA programmes, and researchers met over four online meetings to discuss needs, co-create training modules, and assess usability. In Phase 2, a pre–post quasi-experimental design evaluated changes in capability, opportunity, and motivation of kinesiologists (n = 14) after completing the training modules, which included standardized mock client assessments and participant ratings of module feasibility. Means and standard deviations were computed for feasibility, followed by paired-samples t-tests, along with Hedge’s correction effect size. Mock client sessions underwent coding and reliability assessment. The working group meetings generated two main themes: training in (i) motivational interviewing and behaviour change techniques and (ii) optimizing APA prescription. Nine online training modules were created. In Phase 2, medium to large effects of training modules were observed in capability (Hedge’s g = 0.67–1.19) for 8/9 modules, opportunity (Hedge’s g = 0.77–1.38) for 9/9 modules, and motivation (Hedge’s g = 0.58–1.03) for 6/9 modules. In mock client assessments, over 78% of participants appropriately used five behaviour change techniques and, on average, participants demonstrated good use of motivational interviewing strategies.The findings indicate that training kinesiologists was feasible and has the potential to enhance community-based physical activity programmes for persons with disabilities.

Differing conceptual maps of skills for implementing evidence-based interventions held by community-based organization practitioners and academics: A multidimensional scaling comparison

Wed, 20 Nov 2024 00:00:00 GMT

Abstract

Community-based organizations (CBOs) are critical for delivering evidence-based interventions (EBIs) to address cancer inequities. However, a lack of consensus on the core skills needed for this work often hinders capacity-building strategies to support EBI implementation. The disconnect is partly due to differing views of EBIs and related skills held by those typically receiving versus developing capacity-building interventions (here, practitioners and academics, respectively). Our team of implementation scientists and practice-based advisors used group concept mapping to engage 34 CBO practitioners and 30 academics with experience addressing cervical cancer inequities implementing EBIs. We created group-specific maps of skills using multidimensional scaling and hierarchical cluster analysis, then compared them using Procrustes comparison permutations. The 98 skills were sorted into six clusters by CBO practitioners and five by academics. The groups generated maps with statistically comparable underlying structures but also statistically significant divergence. Some skill clusters had high concordance across the two maps, e.g. “managing funding and external resources.” Other skill clusters, e.g. “adapting EBIs” from the CBO practitioner map and “selecting and adapting EBIs” from the academic map, did not overlap as much. Across groups, key clusters of skills included connecting with community members, understanding the selected EBI and community context, adapting EBIs, building diverse and equitable partnerships, using data and evaluation, and managing funding and external resources. There is a significant opportunity to combine CBO practitioners’ systems/community frames with the EBI-focused frame of academics to promote EBI utilization and address cancer and other health inequities.