Evaluating the reach, effectiveness, adoption, implementation and maintenance of the Resistance Training for Teens program

Abstract

Background Physical activity guidelines recommend young people engage in regular muscle-strengthening activities (e.g., resistance training [RT]). However, few school-based physical activity interventions have been delivered at-scale or promoted RT. The aim of this study was to evaluate the reach, effectiveness, adoption, implementation and maintenance of the Resistance Training for Teens (RT for Teens) program. Methods Data were collected between August 2015 and October 2020. RE-AIM was operationalized as: (i) Reach: number and characteristics of students estimated to be exposed to the program; (ii) Effectiveness: impact of the program on student-level outcomes measured in a subsample of 750 students from 17 schools; (iii) Adoption: number and representativeness of schools with one or more teachers trained to deliver the program; (iv) Implementation: extent to which the program was delivered as intended; and (v) Maintenance: extent to which the program was sustained in schools. Results The estimated program reach was ~ 10,000 students, out of a total student population of ~ 200,000 (~ 5%). Students were from diverse socioeconomic and ethnic backgrounds. Improvements in muscular fitness, RT self-efficacy, perceived cardiorespiratory fitness and flexibility, and participation in muscle-strengthening physical activities were documented. A total of 30 workshops were delivered, involving 468 teachers from 249 schools from diverse geographical regions. Implementation varied considerably, with teachers adapting the program to suit the context of their school and student cohorts. However, RT skill development and the promotion of muscular fitness were the session components delivered most during sessions. Teachers’ adherence to the SAAFE (Supportive, Active, Autonomous, Fair and Enjoyable) teaching principles was high. Approximately 30% of teachers (144/476) registered to use the RT for Teens app. At the school-level, 37% (93/249) of schools had at least one registered user (teacher and/or student). A total of 2,336 workouts and 3,116 fitness tests were completed by registered users. Of the 249 schools represented, 51 (20.5%) sent an additional (previously untrained) teacher to a second workshop. Conclusions The RT for Teens program had broad reach and adoption. However, intervention delivery varied considerably across schools and additional support strategies are required to optimize intervention implementation and maintain program delivery over time. Future studies will benefit from the utilization of accepted frameworks, recommendations and guidelines for implementation research. Trial registration Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ACTRN12621000352808), retrospectively registered 1st February 2021.

Scale-up of the Internet-based Professional Learning to help teachers promote Activity in Youth (iPLAY) intervention: a hybrid type 3 implementation-effectiveness trial

“…Of the 115 schools involved in our implementationeffectiveness trial, most were located in major cities, with almost a third from inner regional areas, and the remaining from outer regional areas. Our rate of adoption is lower than has been reported in previous school-based physical activity intervention dissemination studies [43,46]. This may be attributed to a range of factors.…”

“…This variability is largely due to the different methods used to calculate reach in dissemination studies [ 9 ]. For example, previous studies have used the number of teachers attending professional learning workshops [ 43 , 44 ] and the ordering of program materials by teachers, to estimate reach into the student population [ 45 ]. We defined ‘reach’ as the estimated number, proportion and representativeness of students who were potentially exposed to iPLAY.…”

“…For example, it is not uncommon for studies to refer to effectiveness data from a previous trial [ 44 ], and focus on implementation evaluation outcomes. Other studies have examined within group effects using a sub-study of participants from the larger dissemination study [ 43 ].…”

Improving physical activity behaviors, physical fitness, cardiometabolic and mental health in adolescents - ActTeens Program: A protocol for a randomized controlled trial

“…The structured sessions of ActTeens Program could offer a feasible method to improve CRF and muscular fitness within PE classes. Further potential advantages are its scalability and ease of dissemination [ 47 , 74 ] since this intervention may be incorporated into PE lessons without taking up additional PE time; it should not interfere with the normal curriculum and does not require extensive training of teachers.…”

Correction to: Evaluating the reach, effectiveness, adoption, implementation and maintenance of the Resistance Training for Teens program

“…Following the publication of the original article [ 1 ], the authors identified errors in the author name and affiliation.…”