Development of a health promoting sports clubs intervention: An intervention mapping process analysis

Developing and implementing health promotion interventions in sports clubs is challenging. Implementing interventions in real world settings should be specific to a sports club's context, particularly their voluntary nature. The present study maps and analyzes the development of the PROSCeSS intervention, designed to support sports clubs to implement health promotion. A case study design mobilising Intervention Mapping - needs assessment, matrix of change, theory of action, program design, plan for adoption and implementation and evaluation - describes the multi-phase intervention. Results encompass the main findings from i) a literature review and a concept mapping study as a needs assessment; ii) a Delphi study and health promoting sports club intervention framework to design the matrix of change; iii) a case study among sports clubs and sports federations to select the theory of action; iv) the intervention co-construction to create the program; v) results from a pilot study to validate the plan for adoption; and vi) implementation and presentation of the e-PROSCeSS questionnaire creation and hybrid type-3 protocol as an evaluation method. The discussion explores the tensions created between evidence driven strategies and the habits of sports clubs, the use of top-down versus bottom-up approaches and reflections on the recursive rather than linear process adopted by the authors.