Active & Safe Central: using a mixed-methods design and the RE-AIM framework to evaluate a sport and recreational injury prevention resource for practitioners in Canada

Abstract

Objectives An online, evidence-based resource was created to support the development of sport and recreational injury prevention programmes. The resource, called Active & Safe Central (www.activesafe.ca), provides evidence-based information across the public health approach for a number of sport and recreational activities. The objective of this project was to evaluate the perceived usefulness of Active & Safe Central as an educational tool.Design A mixed-methods study design, guided by the RE-AIM (reach, effectiveness, adoption, implementation and maintenance) framework, was used to evaluate Active & Safe Central.Setting Data were collected using an online survey, available to all users of the site, and focus groups (n=2) that took place in Vancouver and Toronto, Canada.Participants Survey respondents (n=87) were recruited online, including parents, coaches, youth and adult athletes, and teachers. Focus group participants (n=16) were key stakeholders and end users, recruited from academia, local health sectors, sport and recreational organisations, and not-for-profit injury prevention organisations.Results Post launch, there were 1712 users visiting the website 2306 times (sessions), with the majority representing new users, over returning users (87.5% and 12.5%, respectively). There were 6340 page visits, with the most popular pages including soccer, playgrounds and ice hockey. Active & Safe Central was reported as a credible source of evidence-based sport and recreational information and that the site would be recommended to others. Information collected from focus group participants was used to inform necessary adaptations to the online platform, including critical navigation issues, visualisations and interactivity. The major themes that emerged from focus group and survey data included increased awareness of injury prevention recommendations and that the recommendations would be used in one’s own sporting activity and/or practice.Conclusions The results of the evaluation suggest the tool is a useful resource for sport and recreational injury information that has significant potential to impact prevention practice.