In force
Development, Implementation, and Evaluation of the Impact of a Doping Prevention Program in Ice Hockey
Project description
Summary
This project, conducted by a research team at Université Laval in Quebec, Canada, aimed to develop, implement, and evaluate a doping prevention program specifically designed for ice hockey coaches. The initiative was part of a broader effort funded by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and other Canadian organizations to address doping in sports, particularly among young athletes aged 12 to 16. The project focused on leveraging the influence of coaches to prevent doping, as they play a crucial role in shaping athletes' attitudes and behaviors. The program was guided by the Theory of Planned Behavior, which helped structure the educational content and assess its effectiveness in changing coaches' intentions and behaviors regarding doping prevention.
Methodology
The research employed a quasi-experimental longitudinal design involving 60 ice hockey coaches, who were divided into five groups. Three groups participated in different educational programs: the program developed by Université Laval, the World Anti-Doping Agency's "Entraîneurs Franc Jeu," and the "Diriger un sport sans dopage" program from the National Coaching Certification Program (PNCE). Two additional groups served as comparisons and did not receive any training. Coaches completed questionnaires assessing their beliefs, attitudes, and intentions regarding doping prevention before the program, immediately after, and three months later. The study used the Kruskal-Wallis test to compare the impact of the programs on various constructs of the Theory of Planned Behavior.
Results
The analysis revealed that the Université Laval program positively impacted the determinants of intention, such as attitude, social norms, and perceived behavioral control, with moderate to high effects. However, it had a small effect on the actual intention to intervene and on behavior. The WADA program showed a significant impact on coaches' behavior in preventing doping but had little effect on the proximal and distal determinants of behavior. The PNCE program had limited effects, showing only moderate improvements in attitude and perceived control.
Significance for Clean Sport
The findings highlight the importance of using structured educational programs based on the Theory of Planned Behavior to enhance coaches' roles in doping prevention. The Université Laval program's success in influencing key determinants of intention suggests that tailored interventions can effectively prepare coaches to address doping issues. However, the limited impact on actual behavior indicates a need for further research to understand barriers to translating intention into action. These insights can inform the development of more effective anti-doping education strategies, ultimately contributing to cleaner sports environments.