867 FO32 – Targeting injury prevention behavior in youth handball and football: perspectives from 528 players and 337 coaches – a cross sectional study

Background To implement injury prevention (IP) effectively in team ball sports, behavioral aspects must be considered. Objective To describe and compare determinants of behavior linked to injuries and IP strategies (IP training, pain and injury management, and load management) in and between youth handball and football. Design Cross-sectional study. Setting Norwegian youth handball and football. Participants Football players (n=283), handball players (n=245), football coaches (n=193) and handball coaches (n=144). Methods We distributed a web-based Health Action Process Approach survey. Likert Scale responses were analyzed descriptively, and we used aggregated behavioral construct scores (range 0.14–1.0) to compare groups in a multiple regression model. Main outcome measurements Risk perception (RP), outcome expectancies (OE), intention (INT), task self-efficacy (TSE), maintenance self-efficacy (MSE), and coping self-efficacy (CSE) related to injuries and IP strategies. Results Coaches and players rated injury risk as high with potential long-term health consequences (74–97% agreed), but as low-moderate for personal/team risk (16–50% agreed). They endorsed the effectiveness of IP strategies (coaches; 91–98% agreed, players; 77–99% agreed), and expressed a moderate-high intent to employ them next season (59–94% agreed). Self-efficacy in using IP strategies next season varied (coaches: handball 85% confidence, football 75%; players: handball 71%, football 63%). In all groups, the lowest aggregated HAPA-construct score was RP (0.66–0.77), and the highest was OE (0.80–0.86). Additionally, coach TSE and MSE scores ranged 0.70–0.79 and player CSE scores 0.64–0.69. There was a small significant group difference in aggregated scores (range 0.02–0.09) among coaches across all HAPA constructs and among players in INT, MSE, and CSE. Conclusions The results suggest focusing on RP and SE, with emphasis on action, maintenance and coping strategies in implementation of IP-strategies in youth handball and football. Differences between sports were minor, suggesting similar strategies can be used in both sports. Funded by RCN #326946.