Abstract
Background
There is limited work on the identification of the factors for the successful implementation of effective physical activity (PA) interventions in the Irish context. Given the importance of the implementation stage in effective interventions, it is crucial to build understanding of these factors. The purpose of this study was to identify facilitators and challenges for implementing PA interventions in Ireland to help guide those in the future.
Methods
Semi-structured interviews were conducted with service providers, coordinators, funders, researchers and policy makers involved with selected PA interventions (N=11) in Ireland. The Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) was used to guide the generation of an interview script including key questions and prompts. Prompts were identified through a short survey that was completed by participants before the interview. Interviews lasted approximately one-hour and were conducted by the same interviewer, either in person or over the phone, and recorded using a Dictaphone. All interviews were transcribed and cleaned before being analysed using NVIVO. Open coding, using the CFIR
domains as a guide, was used to generate and agree on a code book to analyse all interviews. Once open coding was complete, thematic analysis was used to identify themes in the data related to implementation facilitators and challenges.
Results
Thirty-three participants took part in the semi-structured interviews (26.3% service providers, 31.6% coordinators, 10.5% funders, 15.8% researchers, 15.8% policy makers). Some themes related to 1) intervention characteristics included usability, costs, fidelity and practical considerations, 2) characteristics of individuals included constraints, knowledge and attitudes, 3) inner setting included support, staffing, understanding or awareness, 4) outer setting included role responsibility, context changes, partnerships, 5) processes of implementation included advertisement, deliver and scale-up. Relationships were also noted between themes. For example, themes identified for funding and stakeholder engagement were found to influence multiple domains of the CFIR framework.
Conclusion
Findings from these interviews help to understand the complexity of implementing PA interventions in the Irish context. Furthermore, the findings can be used to aid implementation through the facilitators identified and provide solutions to common challenges experienced by those involved in implementing PA interventions. Future work will see the creation of an implementation toolkit using these findings.
There is limited work on the identification of the factors for the successful implementation of effective physical activity (PA) interventions in the Irish context. Given the importance of the implementation stage in effective interventions, it is crucial to build understanding of these factors. The purpose of this study was to identify facilitators and challenges for implementing PA interventions in Ireland to help guide those in the future.
Methods
Semi-structured interviews were conducted with service providers, coordinators, funders, researchers and policy makers involved with selected PA interventions (N=11) in Ireland. The Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) was used to guide the generation of an interview script including key questions and prompts. Prompts were identified through a short survey that was completed by participants before the interview. Interviews lasted approximately one-hour and were conducted by the same interviewer, either in person or over the phone, and recorded using a Dictaphone. All interviews were transcribed and cleaned before being analysed using NVIVO. Open coding, using the CFIR
domains as a guide, was used to generate and agree on a code book to analyse all interviews. Once open coding was complete, thematic analysis was used to identify themes in the data related to implementation facilitators and challenges.
Results
Thirty-three participants took part in the semi-structured interviews (26.3% service providers, 31.6% coordinators, 10.5% funders, 15.8% researchers, 15.8% policy makers). Some themes related to 1) intervention characteristics included usability, costs, fidelity and practical considerations, 2) characteristics of individuals included constraints, knowledge and attitudes, 3) inner setting included support, staffing, understanding or awareness, 4) outer setting included role responsibility, context changes, partnerships, 5) processes of implementation included advertisement, deliver and scale-up. Relationships were also noted between themes. For example, themes identified for funding and stakeholder engagement were found to influence multiple domains of the CFIR framework.
Conclusion
Findings from these interviews help to understand the complexity of implementing PA interventions in the Irish context. Furthermore, the findings can be used to aid implementation through the facilitators identified and provide solutions to common challenges experienced by those involved in implementing PA interventions. Future work will see the creation of an implementation toolkit using these findings.
| Original language | English |
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| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 1 Sept 2022 |