Sustaining the implementation of alcohol management practices by community sports clubs: a randomised control trial.

BACKGROUND: Risky alcohol consumption is responsible for a variety of chronic and acute harms. Individuals involved in organised sport have been identified as one population group who consume risky amounts of alcohol both at the elite and the non-elite level. 'Good Sports', an alcohol management intervention focused on the community sports setting has been successful in addressing risky alcohol use and alcohol-related harm amongst players and sports fans. Sustaining such implementation effects is a common challenge across a variety of community settings. The primary aim of this trial was to assess the effectiveness of a web-based program in sustaining the implementation of best-practice alcohol management practices by community football clubs, relative to usual program care (i.e. control clubs). METHODS: Non-elite, community football clubs in the Australian states of New South Wales and Victoria, that were participating in an alcohol management program (Good Sports) were recruited for the study. Consenting clubs were randomised into intervention (N = 92) or control (N = 96) groups. A web-based sustainability intervention was delivered to intervention clubs over three consecutive Australian winter sports seasons (April-September 2015-2017). The intervention was designed to support continued (sustained) implementation of alcohol management practices at clubs consistent with the program. Control group clubs received usual support from the national Good Sports Program. Primary outcome data was collected through observational audits of club venues and grounds. RESULTS: A total of 92 intervention clubs (574 members) and 96 control clubs (612 members) were included in the final analysis. At follow-up, sustained implementation of alcohol management practices was high in both groups and there was no significant difference between intervention or control clubs at follow-up for both the proportion of clubs implementing 10 or more practices (OR 0.53, 95%CI 0.04-7.2; p = 0.63) or for the mean number of practices being implemented (mean difference 0.10, 95%CI -0.23-0.42; p = 0.55). There were also no significant differences between groups on measures of alcohol consumption by club members. CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that sustained implementation of alcohol management practices was high, and similar, between clubs receiving web-based implementation support or usual program support. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12614000746639. Prospectively registered 14/7/2014.

Alcohol management practices in community sporting clubs: Validation of an online self-report tool.

INTRODUCTION AND AIMS: Those involved in organised sport have a high risk of excessive alcohol consumption and alcohol-related harm, the implementation of alcohol management practices have been proven to reduce these risks. Measuring alcohol management practice implementation by sporting clubs is impeded by a lack of valid tools. The aim of this study was to determine the validity of online self-report of alcohol-management practices by community football clubs via comparison with observational methods. DESIGN AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was undertaken with a sample of community football clubs within Australia. The implementation of 12 alcohol management practices was collected via: (i) an online survey; and (ii) observational audit at a clubs home ground. The prevalence of implementation of alcohol management practices for both data collection methods was calculated as was percent agreement and Kappa/Prevalence Adjusted and Bias Adjusted Kappa (PABAK) statistics. RESULTS: Data were collected from 58 football clubs. For both assessment methods, implementation prevalence was greater than 80% for 6 of the 12 alcohol management practices. A total of 75% (n = 9) of practices had at least 70% agreement between the online and observation methods of assessment. Kappa/PABAK scores ranged from -0.08 (poor agreement) to 0.97 (almost perfect agreement). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: The online survey provided valid measure of assessing some but not all alcohol management practices in community sporting clubs. The validity of the measure may be improved by enhancements to the manner in which the self-report data are collected.

Randomised controlled trial of a web-based programme in sustaining best practice alcohol management practices at community sports clubs: a study protocol.

INTRODUCTION: Community-based interventions have been found to effectively increase the implementation of alcohol management practices and reduce excessive alcohol use and alcohol-related harm at sports clubs. However, once implementation support ceases there may be a reduction in such intervention effects. Thus, ongoing contribution to improving the health of the community is diminished; sustaining practice implementation is a key determinant to address this. One possible solution to the strategic and logistical challenges of sustainability involves the use of the web. The primary aim of this study is to assess the effectiveness of a web-based programme in sustaining the implementation of alcohol management practices by community football clubs. The secondary aim is to assess the effectiveness of the programme in preventing excessive alcohol consumption and alcohol-related harm among members of community football clubs. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: The study will employ a repeat randomised controlled trial design and be conducted in regional and metropolitan areas within two states of Australia. Community level football clubs who are currently accredited with an existing alcohol management programme ('Good Sports') and implementing at least 10 of the 13 core alcohol management practices (eg, not serving alcohol to <18-year-olds) required by the programme will be recruited and randomised to either a web-based sustainability programme or a 'minimal contact' programme. The primary outcome measures are the proportion of football clubs implementing ≥10 of the 13 required alcohol management practices and the mean number of those practices being implemented at 3-year follow-up. Secondary outcomes include: the proportion of club members who report risky drinking at their club, the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT) score and mean AUDIT score of club members. Outcome data will be collected via observation at the club during a 1-day visit to a home game, conducted by trained research assistants at baseline and follow-up. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The study was approved by The University of Newcastle Human Research Ethics Committee (reference: H-2013-0429). Study findings will be disseminated widely through peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ACTRN12614000746639; Pre-results.