An Evaluation of Phase 2 of the GAA Healthy Club Project
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An Evaluation of Phase 2 of the GAA Healthy Club Project By David Callaghan MSc A thesis submitted for the Degree of Master of Arts School of Health Sciences Department of Health, Sport and Exercise Science Waterford Institute of Technology Head of Department: Thesis Supervisors: Dr Aoife Lane & Dr Niamh Murphy Date of Submission: 31/05/2018 i Honesty Statement I declare that the work submitted is my own work. Any of the data presented was collected and analysed by myself and is accurate. Appropriate credit has been given where reference has been made to the work of others. Signature: ________________________ David Callaghan Date: _________________________ ii Abstract Introduction: The GAA, in partnership with the HSE, have developed the ‘GAA Healthy Club’ project. A pilot phase of the project was evaluated (Lane et al., 2015) and findings supported the delivery of health promotion through the GAA club setting. In Phase 2, the overall objectives of the evaluation were; (i) to assess the impact of healthy club initiatives on the health of individuals and communities, and (ii) to assess the impact of the project on the daily workings of the GAA club unit. Methods: 60 clubs took part in Phase 2 of the ‘GAA Healthy Club’ project along with 27 control clubs. Mixed methods were used to gather data. Clubs completed a Healthy Club Questionnaire adapted from an index developed by Kokko et al., (2009) at baseline and at the end of Phase 2. The Healthy Club Index indicates the health promotion orientation of a sports club and includes a number of sub-indices such as Policy, Ideology, Practice and Environment. Clubs also self-reported on their overall activity at the end of the 18 month project. Finally, in order to assess objective I a focused evaluation was carried out on three initiatives in the areas of physical activity (PA), healthy eating and community development. Questionnaires, Interviews and FGDs were used to evaluate these initiatives. Results: At follow up, intervention clubs showed significant improvements in overall health promotion orientation (PRE: 18.24, POST: 25.40), while control clubs showed little change (PRE: 22.28, POST: 22.25). Significant improvements were also evident across the sub- indices. Overall, it was notable that a sense of clarity and purpose existed in clubs, but did so within resistance, which clubs actively worked to overcome. The PA initiative included the delivery of the Men on the Move programme with participants reporting an average 2kg weight loss and improvement in cardiorespiratory fitness that was maintained up to 26 weeks. Waist circumference dropped by 3-4 cm and again this was maintained up to 26 weeks. Of the 3 clubs who engaged in the healthy eating evaluation, 2 had adopted healthy eating guidelines and the third club was in the process of developing their guidelines. Across all clubs in the evaluation, 52% had partially or fully implemented these same guidelines. Conclusion(s): The GAA club displays an affiliation and commitment to health promotion that identifies it as an ideal setting for delivering health interventions. Specialist agencies iii should be encouraged and supported to partner with these sports clubs to ensure the delivery of evidence based, effective initiatives. iv Acknowledgements I would like to show my appreciation and admiration for my supervisors Dr Aoife Lane and Dr Niamh Murphy. Your guidance, patience and insight have been of huge help to me so thank you both. Thanks to the GAA Community and Health Department in Croke Park who were a pleasure to work with for the duration of Phase 2. Colin, Aoife, Stacey, Emmet, and Ronan, you have all done amazing work in bringing this project to where it is and I’ve no doubt it will continue to progress. Thank you also to the many GAA club volunteers who I engaged with during Phase 2. Projects like this would not be possible without your passion and energy. Finally, thanks to my parents, family and girlfriend for all their support. v Table of Contents Chapter 1 Introduction ............................................................................................. 1 1.1 Background ................................................................................................................. 1 1.2 Purpose of the Study .................................................................................................. 5 1.3 Study Aim .................................................................................................................... 5 1.4 Study Objectives ......................................................................................................... 5 1.5 Overview of thesis ...................................................................................................... 6 Chapter 2 Literature Review ..................................................................................... 7 2.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................ 7 2.2 Settings Approach to Health Promotion .................................................................... 7 2.2.1 Schools, Workplaces, Cities and Communities as settings for Health Promotion .............................................................................................................................. 10 2.2.2 Sport and Sports Clubs as a Setting for Health Promotion ......................... 12 2.2.3 Physical Activity for Health .......................................................................... 12 2.3 Sport and Health ......................................................................................................... 13 2.3.1 Health Benefits of Sport for Children .......................................................... 13 2.3.2 Health Benefits of Sport for Adults ............................................................. 15 2.3.3 Sport and Emotional Health and Wellbeing ................................................ 16 2.3.4 Sport and Nutrition ...................................................................................... 16 2.3.5 Sport and Alcohol and Drug Misuse ............................................................ 17 2.3.6 Sport and Sponsorship................................................................................. 19 2.3.7 Sport and Injury ........................................................................................... 21 2.3.7 Sport Participation and its Contribution to Health Enhancing Physical Activity (HEPA) ................................................................................................................... 22 2.4 Value of Sport ............................................................................................................. 23 2.5 Participation in Sport .................................................................................................. 25 2.4.1 Drop out From Sport.................................................................................... 28 2.6 Developing a Framework for Sport as a Setting ......................................................... 30 2.6.1 SCforH Guidelines ........................................................................................ 30 2.6.2 Proposed Framework for Health Promotion in a Sports Setting ................ 32 2.7 Sport based HP in practice ......................................................................................... 34 2.7.1 Australia ....................................................................................................... 35 2.7.2 Europe.......................................................................................................... 38 2.7.3 Coaching Related HP ................................................................................... 42 2.8 Barriers and facilitators to HP in sports clubs ............................................................ 45 2.9 Health & Wellbeing in the GAA .................................................................................. 47 2.10 Summary ................................................................................................................... 48 Chapter 3 Methodology ............................................................................................ 50 vi 3.1 Research Approach ..................................................................................................... 50 3.2 Study Design ............................................................................................................... 50 3.3 Participants ................................................................................................................. 52 3.3.1 Governance.................................................................................................. 52 3.3.1.1 GAA Community and Health Team............................................... 52 3.3.1.2 GAA HC Steering Committee ........................................................ 53 3.3.1.3 Healthy Club Officers .................................................................... 53 3.3.1.4 Executive Committee Members ................................................... 53 3.3.2 Key Partners ................................................................................................. 53 3.4 Effect of the HC-Overview .......................................................................................... 54 3.5 Evaluation of the HCP Initiatives-Overview ................................................................ 54 3.5.1 Healthy Eating Initiative