TY - JOUR
T1 - Practitioner, Coach and Athlete Perceptions of Evidence-Based Practice in Professional Sport in Australia
AU - Schwarz, Edgar
AU - Harper, Liam
AU - Duffield, Rob
AU - McCunn, Robert
AU - Govus, Andrew
AU - Skorski, Sabrina
AU - Fullagar, Hugh
PY - 2021/12/1
Y1 - 2021/12/1
N2 - Purpose: To examine practitioners, coaches and athletes’ perceptions of evidence-based practice (EBP) in professional sport within Australia. Methods: 138 participants (practitioners [n=67], coaches [n=39] players [n=32]) in various professional sports within Australia each completed a group-specific online questionnaire. Questions focused on perceptions of research, the contribution of their own experience in implementing knowledge to practice, sources and barriers for accessing and implementing EBP, preferred methods of feedback and the required qualities of practitioners. Results: All practitioners reported using EBP, whilst most coaches and athletes believed EBP contributes to individual performance and preparation (>85%). Practitioners’ preferred EBP information sources were ‘peer reviewed journals’, and ‘other practitioners within their sport’, whilst athlete sources were ‘practitioners within their sport’ and ‘other athletes within their sport’. As primary barriers to accessing and implementing research, practitioners highlighted ‘time constraints’, ‘poor research translation’ and ‘non-applicable research’. Practitioners ranked ‘informal conversation’ as their most valued method of providing feedback; however, coaches prefer feedback from ‘scheduled meetings’, ‘online reports’ or ‘shared database’. Both athletes and coaches value ‘excellent knowledge of the sport’, ‘experience’ and ‘communication skills’ in practitioners disseminating EBP. Conclusion: Practitioners, coaches and athletes believe in the importance of EBP to their profession, although practitioners reported several barriers to accessing and implementing research as part of EBP. Athletes place a high value on experienced practitioners who have excellent knowledge of the sport and communication skills. Collectively, these findings can be used to further stakeholder understanding regarding EBP and the role of research to positively influence athlete health
AB - Purpose: To examine practitioners, coaches and athletes’ perceptions of evidence-based practice (EBP) in professional sport within Australia. Methods: 138 participants (practitioners [n=67], coaches [n=39] players [n=32]) in various professional sports within Australia each completed a group-specific online questionnaire. Questions focused on perceptions of research, the contribution of their own experience in implementing knowledge to practice, sources and barriers for accessing and implementing EBP, preferred methods of feedback and the required qualities of practitioners. Results: All practitioners reported using EBP, whilst most coaches and athletes believed EBP contributes to individual performance and preparation (>85%). Practitioners’ preferred EBP information sources were ‘peer reviewed journals’, and ‘other practitioners within their sport’, whilst athlete sources were ‘practitioners within their sport’ and ‘other athletes within their sport’. As primary barriers to accessing and implementing research, practitioners highlighted ‘time constraints’, ‘poor research translation’ and ‘non-applicable research’. Practitioners ranked ‘informal conversation’ as their most valued method of providing feedback; however, coaches prefer feedback from ‘scheduled meetings’, ‘online reports’ or ‘shared database’. Both athletes and coaches value ‘excellent knowledge of the sport’, ‘experience’ and ‘communication skills’ in practitioners disseminating EBP. Conclusion: Practitioners, coaches and athletes believe in the importance of EBP to their profession, although practitioners reported several barriers to accessing and implementing research as part of EBP. Athletes place a high value on experienced practitioners who have excellent knowledge of the sport and communication skills. Collectively, these findings can be used to further stakeholder understanding regarding EBP and the role of research to positively influence athlete health
KW - athletic performance
KW - translational research
KW - communication barriers
KW - implementation science
KW - elite sport
KW - research informed practice
UR - https://www.scopus.com/record/display.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85125550557&origin=resultslist&sort=plf-f&src=s&st1=10.1123%2fijspp.2020-0835&sid=e28ecb72df256134f7e5131c240362e2&sot=b&sdt=b&sl=28&s=DOI%2810.1123%2fijspp.2020-0835%29&relpos=0&citeCnt=0&searchTerm=&featureToggles=FEATURE_NEW_DOC_DETAILS_EXPORT:1
U2 - 10.1123/ijspp.2020-0835
DO - 10.1123/ijspp.2020-0835
M3 - Article
VL - 16
SP - 1728
EP - 1735
JO - International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance
JF - International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance
SN - 1555-0265
IS - 12
ER -