Determinants of the adoption of injury risk reduction programmes in athletics (track and field): an online survey of 7715 French athletes

Alexis Ruffault (1, 2) , Marine Sorg (3) , Simon Martin (4, 5) , Christine Hanon (1, 6) , Lison Jacquet (3) , Evert Verhagen (7) , Pascal Edouard (3, 8, 9)

1 SEP (EA7370) - French Institute of Sport (INSEP), Laboratory Sport, Expertise and Performance (EA7370)
2 Unité de Recherche Interfacultaire Santé et Société (URiSS), University of Liège
3 Sports Medicine Unit, Department of Clinical and Exercise Physiology, University Hospital of Saint-Étienne
4 APERE - Adaptations Physiologiques à l'Exercice et Réadaptation à l'effort - UR UPJV 3300
5 Halmstad University
6 FFA - Fédération Française d'Athlétisme
7 Amsterdam Collaboration on Health & Safety in Sports, Department of Public and Occupational Health, Amsterdam Movement Sciences, Amsterdam UMC, University Medical Centers – Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam,
8 European Athletics Medical & Anti Doping Commission, European Athletics Association (EAA)
9 LIBM - Laboratoire Interuniversitaire de Biologie de la Motricité

Objectives
To identify individual characteristics associated with the adoption of injury risk reduction programmes (IRRP) and to investigate the variations in sociocognitive determinants (ie, attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioural control and intentions) of IRRP adoption in athletics (track and field) athletes.
Methods
We conducted a cross-sectional study using an online survey sent to athletes licensed with the French Federation of Athletics to investigate their habits and sociocognitive determinants of IRRP adoption. Sociodemographic characteristics, sports practice and history of previous injuries were also recorded. Logistic regression analyses and group comparisons were performed.
Results
The final sample was composed of 7715 athletes. From the multivariable analysis, competing at the highest level was positively associated with IRRP adoption (adjusted OR (AOR)=1.66; 99.9% CI 1.39 to 1.99 and AOR=1.48; 99.9% CI 1.22 to 1.80) and presenting a low number of past injuries was negatively associated with IRRP adoption (AOR=0.48; 99.9% CI 0.35 to 0.65 and AOR=0.61; 99.9% CI 0.44 to 0.84), both during their lifetime and the current season, respectively. These results were supported by higher scores of sociocognitive determinants among athletes who reported IRRP adoption compared with other athletes.
Conclusion
Some characteristics of athletes seem to be associated with IRRP adoption either positively (competing at the highest level) or negatively (presenting a lower number of past injuries), whereas all the sociocognitive determinants tested appear to be linked to IRRP adoption. Since many athlete characteristics are difficult or impossible to change, IRRP promotion may be enhanced by targeting athletes’ beliefs and intentions to adopt an IRRP.

Mots clés: Sports injury prevention; Prevention strategy; Sociocognitive determinants; Track and field; Athletes; Theory of planned behaviour

Domaines: Santé du sportif; Psychologie; Sciences cognitives du sport

Alexis Ruffault, Marine Sorg, Simon Martin, Christine Hanon, Lison Jacquet, et al.. Determinants of the adoption of injury risk reduction programmes in athletics (track and field): an online survey of 7715 French athletes. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 2021, bjsports-2021-104593. ⟨10.1136/bjsports-2021-104593⟩. ⟨hal-03578632⟩