Impact and Acceptability of the Coach and Teacher Training Within a School-Based Sport-for-Health Smoking Prevention Intervention: SmokeFree Sports

ABSTRACT

This study evaluated the impact and acceptability of a three-hour bespoke training workshop for sports coaches and teachers to subsequently deliver a sport-for-health smoking prevention intervention in primary schools. Questionnaires were completed pre- and post-training by both teachers (N = 24) and coaches (N = 8), and post-intervention by teachers. Interviews were also conducted with coaches (N = 7) and teachers (N = 12). Both groups displayed a significant increase in intervention knowledge and delivery self-efficacy from pre- to post-training, which was maintained at post-intervention for teachers. Data suggest that a brief training workshop is acceptable to practitioners and fosters confidence to implement a sport-for-health smoking prevention program.

KEYWORDS:

• acceptability
• intervention
• self-efficacy
• smoking
• sport-for-health
• training

Acknowledgments

The research team would like to thank Helen Casstles and Katie Dougherty from Liverpool Community Health Trust for co-delivering the training. In addition, we would like to thank the coaches and teachers who participated in the research, as well as the members of the project steering group.

Funding

Funding for this study was provided by Liverpool Primary Care Trust and Liverpool City Council.