732 MEP105 – Implementation and scale-up of injury prevention programs after their initial effectiveness trial: a mixed methodologies study

AbstractBackground Few injury prevention practices proven effective in a controlled setting are successfully implemented or scaled up. This study was conducted to better understand the implementation process during effectiveness trials and the scale up activities beyond a research setting.Objective We assessed facilitators and barriers for implementation during the effectiveness trial period and scale up efforts of injury prevention practices in a real-world setting.Design We performed a systematic review to identify injury prevention effectiveness trials. Primary authors were sent an online survey to assess the perceived facilitators and barriers to implementation during their effectiveness trial and scale-up efforts. A subsample was interviewed regarding the scale-up of their injury prevention practice. We employed a thematic analysis to analyze the data.Setting Sports injury preventionParticipants We identified 107 papers and invited 96 authors to complete the survey. Thirty-nine authors completed the survey (response rate 41%), and nine participated in the online interview.Main Outcome Measurements Facilitators and barriers for implementing injury prevention practices both during an effectiveness trial and during scale up in a real-world setting.Results Fourteen respondents reported that the intervention was scaled-up (36%). We present the facilitators and barriers identified in the survey and the interviews. We identified the following themes in our data: (1) the intervention (e.g. sport specific, flexibility), (2) the research team (e.g. commitment for scale-up, composition research team), (3) the coach or athletes (e.g. experience level coach, feedback users), (4) the broader context (e.g. support of association, push by a public event), (5) scale-up strategies (e.g. quality control, company owned program).Conclusion To improve implementation efforts, we urge researchers to structurally assess and share facilitators and barriers for implementing their injury prevention practices. Not only those perceived during the effectiveness trial but also beyond.