Facilitators to support the implementation of injury prevention training in youth handball: A concept mapping approach

Abstract

There is a need for research to identify effective implementation strategies for injury prevention training within real‐world community sports. The aim of this ecological participatory study was to identify facilitators, among stakeholders at multiple levels, that could help injury prevention training become part of regular training routines in youth team handball. Concept mapping, a mixed‐method approach for qualitative data collection and quantitative data analysis, was used. Stakeholders (n = 196) of two community team handball clubs (29% players, 13% coaches, 38% caregivers, 11% club, district and national handball administrators, 9% unknown) participated in a brainstorming process. After the research team synthesized the 235 generated statements, 50 stakeholders (34% players, 22% coaches, 24% caregivers, 20% administrators) sorted 89 unique facilitator statements into clusters and rated them for importance and feasibility. Multidimensional scaling and hierarchical cluster analysis yielded five clusters (stress value 0.231): “Understanding and applying knowledge,” “Education, knowledge, and consistency,” “Set‐up and exercises,” “Inspiration, motivation, and routines,” and “Club policy and expert collaboration.” The cluster “Understanding and applying knowledge” had the highest mean importance (3.17 out of 4) and feasibility (2.93) ratings. The 32 statements rated as both highly important and feasible (Go‐zone) indicate action is required at the individual (end‐users) and organizational (policymakers) levels to implement injury prevention training. Results suggest that developing evidence‐based context‐specific injury prevention training, incorporating physiological, biomechanical and psychological components, and an associated context‐specific implementation plan in partnership with all stakeholders should be a high priority to facilitate the implementation of injury prevention training in youth team handball.

Planning injury prevention training for youth handball players: application of the generalisable six-step intervention development process

“…Engaging end users may also help overcome identified barriers to implementing injury prevention programmes, that is, coaches’ insufficient knowledge or lack of interest regarding programme content and delivery, and lack of support from the organisation 19–21. Our first I-PROTECT study confirmed the importance of involving end users when developing injury prevention training, to achieve high levels of competence and self-efficacy among end users 17. However, in previous studies of youth team sports, experts have developed the injury prevention programme, and end-user involvement has been poorly described 13 14 22.…”

“…To enhance the implementation of injury prevention training,6 it is important to incorporate the perspectives of relevant stakeholders at multiple levels 16. The stakeholders in I-PROTECT include players (health beneficiaries), caregivers, coaches (programme deliverers), clubs and organisational administrators (policy makers) 17. Our first I-PROTECT study identified the facilitators, among stakeholders at multiple levels, that could help injury prevention training become part of regular training routines in youth handball 17.…”

“…The stakeholders in I-PROTECT include players (health beneficiaries), caregivers, coaches (programme deliverers), clubs and organisational administrators (policy makers) 17. Our first I-PROTECT study identified the facilitators, among stakeholders at multiple levels, that could help injury prevention training become part of regular training routines in youth handball 17. In study 2, which is the focus of the present paper, we will develop the I-PROTECT model.…”

Injury Occurrence in Male Handball Players and its Impact on Physical Constitution

“…These players often have no access to team doctors and physiotherapists in case of injuries, compared to players in top clubs [12,13,33]. As well posture and postural control are considered as significant indicators for motion control, latter gives information how resistant the body is towards injury-induced influences [34][35][36]. Furthermore, it is assumed that good postural control is a preventive factor of fall prophylaxis [37][38][39].…”

Injury Prevention in Youth Football Players : Training Effects and Programme Implementation

“…The programme material and its distribution may still be developed in order to overcome barriers and facilitate the use of Knee Control+. The trend today is to have end-users take part in programme development and planning for implementation 3,27 . It is particularly valuable that the origins of Knee Control+ stem from lessons learnt from interviews with coaches and that it was tested on teams that were able to give their feedback on the programme in pilot studies before Study IV.…”