From the time of its development, the LIVESTRONG at the YMCA program has served more than 29,000 survivors and trained more than 2,200 LIVESTRONG at the YMCA instructors. A national survey of more than 1,600 program participants demonstrates positive outcomes on health and well-being, as well as intent to continue exercising after the program's end.

PurposeTo identify facilitators and barriers among early adopters of Enhance®Fitness (EF), in Young Men’s Christian Association-affiliated (Y-affiliated) sites from the perspective of program staff. EF is an evidence-based group exercise program for seniors.MethodsThis qualitative study used semi-structured phone interviews with 15 staff members representing 14 Y-affiliated sites. Interviews were digitally recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using qualitative content analysis informed by the RE-AIM framework.FindingsStaff were, on average, 48.7 years old (SD 13.5) and had been involved with EF for 5.2 years (SD 3.1). Key themes related to facilitating adoption of EF were: match with the Y mission, support from different organizational levels, match between the target population need and EF, initial and on-going financial support, presence of champions, novelty of EF, an invitation to partner with a community-based organization to offer EF, and program-specific characteristics of EF. Key themes related to barriers interfering with EF adoption included competing organizational programs and space limitations, limited resources and expertise, and costs of offering the program.ImplicationsOur findings identify the types of organizational support needed for adoption of evidence-based health promotion programs like EF. Recommendations for practice, research, and policy based on the findings, including assessing organizational readiness, researching late adopters, and developing revenue streams, may help facilitate program adoption. Packaging and sharing these practical recommendations could help community-based agencies and nationally networked organizations facilitate adoption of EF and other evidence-based programs.

Purpose: Increased physical activity (PA) levels in cancer survivors are associated with decreased risk of recurrence and mortality as well as additional positive health outcomes. PA interventions have shown to be efficacious, though many lack translation to and sustainability in community settings. We used dimensions of the RE-AIM framework to evaluate LIVESTRONG® at the YMCA, a nationwide community-based PA program for cancer survivors delivered at Ys. Methods: This was a longitudinal study design using national LIVESTRONG at the YMCA data compiled between 2010 and 2018. Data is from all YMCAs who deliver LIVESTRONG at the YMCA, submitted by Program Directors to the YMCA-USA. We assessed reach (number of participants), adoption (associations offering the program), implementation (conducting 3 fidelity checks), and organizational level maintenance (associations recently offering program). We also examined relationships between organizational characteristics (years of program existence and association area household income) and program implementation factors with member conversion rates. Results: As of 2018, LIVESTRONG at the YMCA has reached 62,044 survivors and 245 of the 840 (29.2%) of Y associations have adopted the program. Among the adopters, 91% were aware of fidelity checks; implementation of observational (62.3%), goal setting (49.9%), and functional (64.6%) checklists varied. Most (95.1%) adopters reported offering ≥ 1 LIVESTRONG session per year (organizational-level maintenance) and a facility-level mean membership conversion percentage of 46.9 ± 31.2%. Fewer years implementing the program and higher association area household income were significantly associated with a greater membership conversion rate vs their comparison. In a multiple regression model controlling for organizational characteristics, conducting the fidelity checks independently (observational, β = 8.41; goal-setting, β = 9.70; and functional, β = 9.61) and collectively (β = 10.82; 95% CI 5.90-16.80) was positively associated with higher membership conversion rates. Conclusions: LIVESTRONG at the YMCA, in its early years, has shown promise for high reach, while adoption at more associations could be facilitated. Implementing fidelity checks along with organizational characteristics were associated with membership conversion rate. Identification of association-level strategies to increase reach, adoption, implementation, and maintenance may increase the impact of this community-based PA program.

Purpose: Increased physical activity (PA) levels in cancer survivors are associated with decreased risk of recurrence and mortality as well as additional positive health outcomes. PA interventions have shown to be efficacious, though many lack translation to and sustainability in community settings. We used dimensions of the RE-AIM framework to evaluate LIVE STRONG® at the YMCA, a nation-wide community-based PA program for cancer survivors delivered at Ys. Methods: LIVE STRONG at the Y national data compiled by YMCA of the USA and Y Association Program Managers between the years of 2010-2018 was examined. We assessed reach (number of participants), adoption (Associations offering the program), implementation (conducting 3 fidelity checks), setting-level maintenance (Associations recently offering program) and participant-level maintenance (membership conversion rate). We also examined relationships between organizational characteristics (years of program existence and Association area household income), and program implementation factors with member conversion. Results: As of 2018, LIVE STRONG at the Y has reached 62,044 survivors and 245 of the 840 (29.2%) of Y Associations have adopted the program. Among the adopters, 91% were aware of fidelity checks; implementation of Observational (62.3%), Goal-setting (49.9%), and Functional (64.6%) checklists varied. Most (95.1%) adopters reported offering ≥1 LIVE STRONG session per year (setting-level maintenance) and a facility-level mean membership conversion percentage of 46.9±31.2% (participant-level maintenance). Fewer years implementing the program and higher Association area household income were significantly associated with a greater membership conversion rate vs their comparison (all t-test p’s <0.05). In a multiple regression model controlling for organizational characteristics, conducting the fidelity checks (Observational, β=8.41; Goal-setting, β=9.70; and Functional, β=9.61; all p’s <0.01) was positively associated with higher membership conversion rates. Conclusions: LIVE STRONG at the Y, in its early years, has shown promise for high reach, while adoption at more Associations could be facilitated. Implementing fidelity checks along with organizational characteristics were associated with higher participant-level maintenance. Identification of Association-level strategies to increase reach, adoption, implementation and maintenance may increase the impact of this community-based PA program.

Purpose: Increased physical activity (PA) levels in cancer survivors are associated with decreased risk of recurrence and mortality as well as additional positive health outcomes. PA interventions have shown to be efficacious, though many lack translation to and sustainability in community settings. We used dimensions of the RE-AIM framework to evaluate LIVE STRONG® at the YMCA, a nation-wide community-based PA program for cancer survivors delivered at Ys. Methods: LIVE STRONG at the Y national data compiled by YMCA of the USA and Y Association Program Managers between the years of 2010-2018 was examined. We assessed reach (number of participants), adoption (Associations offering the program), implementation (conducting 3 fidelity checks), setting-level maintenance (Associations recently offering program) and participant-level maintenance (membership conversion rate). We also examined relationships between organizational characteristics (years of program existence and Association area household income), and program implementation factors with member conversion. Results: As of 2018, LIVE STRONG at the Y has reached 62,044 survivors and 245 of the 840 (29.2%) of Y Associations have adopted the program. Among the adopters, 91% were aware of fidelity checks; implementation of Observational (62.3%), Goal-setting (49.9%), and Functional (64.6%) checklists varied. Most (95.1%) adopters reported offering ≥1 LIVE STRONG session per year (setting-level maintenance) and a facility-level mean membership conversion percentage of 46.9±31.2% (participant-level maintenance). Fewer years implementing the program and higher Association area household income were significantly associated with a greater membership conversion rate vs their comparison (all t-test p’s <0.05). In a multiple regression model controlling for organizational characteristics, conducting the fidelity checks (Observational, β=8.41; Goal-setting, β=9.70; and Functional, β=9.61; all p’s <0.01) was positively associated with higher membership conversion rates. Conclusions: LIVE STRONG at the Y, in its early years, has shown promise for high reach, while adoption at more Associations could be facilitated. Implementing fidelity checks along with organizational characteristics were associated with higher participant-level maintenance. Identification of Association-level strategies to increase reach, adoption, implementation and maintenance may increase the impact of this community-based PA program.