GRADE IT—A Literacy-Based Assessment Tool for Generating Research-Based Assessment Data to Evidence the ImpacT of Anti-doping Education via Athletes' Capability to Make the Right Decision

Abstract

The International Standard for Education (ISE) mandates Code Signatories to plan, deliver, and evaluate anti-doping education. Performance-based evaluation of anti-doping education requires alignment between educational goals, content, and defined outcomes. Based on an existentialist teaching and learning philosophy, we aimed to develop and test an anti-doping impact evaluation tool, to assess the impact of anti-doping education on doping awareness, literacy (DAL), perceived trust, and legitimacy. We propose that the impact of anti-doping education is best captured through assessment of situation-specific (social) cognitive mediators of actions that influence athletes' choices in the context of sport-related goals. In phase one, we aimed to develop and test the Generating Research-based Assessment Data to Evidence the ImpacT of anti-doping education (GRADE IT) evaluation tool that comprised a set of social cognitive components: anti-doping knowledge, DAL, perceived trust, and legitimacy of anti-doping (organizations). In phase two we assessed whether anti-doping education impacts knowledge, the three DAL stages (functional, interactive, and critical literacy), perceived trust and legitimacy. Phase one enrolled 986 junior elite athletes, and we showed that all GRADE IT components performed well. After revision of the tool for phase two, we validated the assumption that anti-doping education impacts the likelihood that athletes will make the “right” choice (based on a new set of data from 1,255 junior elite athletes). Comprehensive education was associated with higher scores for all stages of DAL, as well as perceived trust and legitimacy. Even athletes reporting no education had positive scores for all included outcomes, supporting the assumption that most athletes wish to engage in clean sport behaviors and might need anti-doping education not to prevent them from doping, but rather to reinforce their commitment to clean sport. In conclusion, GRADE IT, which is available in 23 languages, is a suitable tool for application to young, emerging athletes to satisfy the ISE requirement for evaluating anti-doping education programs. Researchers and practitioners alike are advised to collect additional data to further validate the tool for adult athletes, and to apply it longitudinally to identify if changes in doping prevention policies have a delayed effect on DAL, perceived trust, and legitimacy.

Relationship between the level of willingness to learn about anti-doping and objective knowledge among Japanese university athletes: A cross-sectional study

“…Comprehensive ADE is consistent with claims strongly associated with trustworthiness and legitimacy (Blank et al, 2022 ). Most athletes desire clean sporting behavior free of doping and need ADE to reinforce the commitment to clean sport rather than to prevent doping (Blank et al, 2022 ), so a multifaceted ADE goes beyond information-based knowledge to promote compliance with the Code and to develop decision-making and practical skills.…”

“…An extensive survey assessing perceptions of ADE among elite youth athletes found that those with selective educational experiences had higher perceptions of the usefulness and reliability of ADE than athletes who were provided with information-based ADE (Gatterer et al, 2021). Comprehensive ADE is consistent with claims strongly associated with trustworthiness and legitimacy (Blank et al, 2022). Most athletes desire clean sporting behavior free of doping and need ADE to reinforce the commitment to clean sport rather than to prevent doping (Blank et al, 2022), so a multifaceted ADE goes beyond information-based knowledge to promote compliance with the Code and to develop decisionmaking and practical skills.…”

Health promoting sports federations: theoretical foundations and guidelines

“…Research on Australian interventions among community sports clubs have shown effectiveness on behavioral outcomes ( 25 ), as well as cost-effectiveness ( 26 , 27 ). Nevertheless, scant research has targeted NSFs ( 28 , 29 ), and focused principally on programs dedicated to health topics, such as, safeguarding children ( 30 ), doping prevention ( 31 , 32 ) and injury prevention ( 33 ). The presence, albeit limited, and the narrow awareness of HP as a global concept in international or NSF has been demonstrated ( 34 ), and its alignment to sports federation business is crucial for further investment ( 28 , 35 ).…”

Utilização de mídias eletrônicas pelas confederações desportivas brasileiras na educação antidopagem

“…Isto cresce ainda mais de importância ao considerarmos que estudos apontam para a desinformação de boa parte de atletas jovens. Blank et al (2022) avaliaram 1255 jovens atletas austríacos de elite e concluíram que 25.1% nunca haviam recebido nenhuma educação anti-doping. Além disto, Peters, Schulz, Oberhoffer, & Michna (2009), em estudo realizado na Alemanha, sugeriram que 75.3% dos atletas avaliados por questionário autorrespondido já haviam pensado em utilizar substâncias ou métodos proibidos.…”