engleski

The relative importance of process evaluation indicators for the implementation of Sports Club for Health (SCforH) programmes

Introduction: In 2011, an expert panel developed guidelines for the implementation of Sports Club for Health (SCforH) programmes. The guidelines were designed to encourage sports clubs to focus more on health promotion and assist them to implement HEPA activities in their programmes. The guidelines provided 20 specific indicators that could be used to evaluate the quality of the implementation of SCforH programmes in sports clubs. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relative importance of the process evaluation indicators. Methods: The importance of each indicator was independently assessed by 10 HEPA experts, partners in the SCforH 2009-2011 project, on an 11-point response scale (from 0 [not important at all] to 10 [extremely important]). The ratings of one expert significantly lowered the inter-rater reliability, and were, therefore, excluded from the final analysis. Results: Cronbach’s alpha coefficient (95% confidence interval) for the inter-rater reliability was 0.70 (0.45, 0.86). The highest ratings (mean±SD) were given to the following indicators: [i] ‘Programme instructors are licensed to run HEPA programmes in accordance with existing regulations, and the club ensures their continuous vocational education and training’ (8.50±1.03) ; [ii] ‘The club provides instructors with written instructions for conducting particular HEPA programmes’ (8.25±1.04) ; [iii] ‘The club periodically conducts surveys about the clients' satisfaction with the club and HEPA programmes’ (7.67±2.18) ; [iv] ‘The groups in HEPA programmes are formed according to the clients’ initial level of fitness’ (7.44±1.13) ; and [v] ‘The clients are offered written information on the health effects of particular HEPA programmes’ (7.33±1.70). Discussion: Our results showed high reliability of the expert assessment of specific process evaluation indicators for the implementation of SCforH programmes. Two most highly rated indicators were related to education and training of programme instructors. Hence, building in quality standards for HEPA programmes delivery may be the most important indicator of a successful implementation of SCforH guidelines in sports clubs. The expert ratings of specific indicators determined in this study can be used by HEPA promoters or sports club managers to define their priorities in the implementation of SCforH programmes, and to increase the validity of external or self-evaluation while monitoring the progress of the implementation.

health promotion; health-enhancing physical activity; quality standards; expert assessment; inter-rater reliability

nije evidentirano