Barriers and Facilitators to Implementing Exercise is Medicine Canada on Campus Groups

The Exercise is Medicine Canada on Campus (EIMC-OC) program was established in 2013 to provide opportunities for students to promote physical activity in their campus communities. Currently, 38 EIMC-OC groups are in operation, and each has encountered challenges and enablers that have yet to be formally documented. This project aimed to (1) identify barriers and facilitators when implementing an EIMC-OC group and (2) investigate levels of implementation at which the barriers and facilitators operate. Throughout winter 2016, 22 EIMC-OC group leaders representing 12 groups contributed data. Participants completed a survey and a semistructured interview developed using the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR). Interviews were transcribed and underwent thematic analysis. Eighteen barriers and 24 facilitators were identified, with four influencers cited as both a barrier and a facilitator. Common barriers included group member time constraints and communicating with health care professionals. Common facilitators included collaborating with other groups and advertising. Most influencers corresponded to the inner setting and process CFIR domains. Findings from this study suggest that EIMC-OC groups face similar barriers and facilitators despite varying local contexts. The influencers identified highlight recommendations to enhance the success of the EIMC-OC program and other multisite health initiatives at academic institutions.