Content
About this brief
Does education improve adherence to a training monitoring program in recreational athletes?
Brief about:
Journal Article (2023)
Written by:
Other researchers:
This study evaluates whether educational interventions can enhance adherence to a training monitoring program among recreational athletes, and examines the effect on burnout, stress, and recovery while exploring athlete perspectives.
Training monitoring is designed to balance training load and recovery, potentially preventing negative outcomes such as overtraining and burnout. Despite its benefits, adherence is typically low, partly due to athletes’ limited understanding of monitoring’s purpose and benefits. Educational strategies, which have shown success in other health-related adherence programs, may improve adherence in athlete populations. This study aimed to assess the impact of a training monitoring education intervention on adherence, determine its effects on burnout and stress/recovery, and qualitatively explore participants’ experiences and perceptions of the education and monitoring process.
Key findings
- The educational intervention did not significantly improve adherence rates.Evidence
Adherence was similarly low in both the education group (45.8%) and control group (43.0%) over the eight-week data collection period, with no statistically significant difference. Additionally, dropout rates were high (52%) across both groups.
What it meansThis indicates that brief educational videos alone may not be sufficient to enhance adherence to training monitoring programs in recreational athletes.
- Perceived knowledge of training monitoring improved over time in both groups.Evidence
Perceived understanding scores increased significantly from pre-study to post-study in both the control (21.5 to 32.1) and education (21.9 to 35.1) groups, indicating greater knowledge about training monitoring tools by the end of the study.
What it meansThe use of a monitoring program may have contributed to increased knowledge, regardless of the educational intervention.
- External factors influenced adherence more than the educational intervention.Evidence
Participants cited work demands, illness, holidays, and COVID-19 as factors affecting their ability to consistently log data. Participants also found the time commitment for data entry manageable, requiring approximately 5-10 minutes per day.
What it meansThese factors suggest that lifestyle and external demands significantly impact adherence, highlighting the need for more flexible and personalized strategies.
- Participants wanted more guidance on applying monitoring data to modify their training.Evidence
Interview feedback indicated that participants understood the monitoring process but lacked clarity on how to use the data for training modifications. Participants expressed a desire for actionable feedback and suggestions based on their data.
What it meansTraining monitoring programs may be more effective if they include education on interpreting data and making data-driven training adjustments.
- Feedback on training data could improve adherence and motivation.Evidence
Participants suggested that personalized feedback and alerts for significant changes in training patterns or wellness metrics would be beneficial. They also preferred feedback presented in visual formats, such as graphs, with notifications for significant changes.
What it meansIntegrating tailored feedback into monitoring systems could enhance user engagement and adherence.
Proposed action
- Provide ongoing, interactive education to improve training monitoring adherence.
Implement periodic face-to-face or live online training sessions to supplement static educational content.
- Incorporate personalized feedback mechanisms in training monitoring systems.
Utilize automated alerts and data analytics to provide actionable recommendations based on individual training and wellness data.
- Develop flexible monitoring protocols that accommodate recreational athletes' varying schedules.
Allow for adaptable data entry routines that account for external factors like work commitments and life events.
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Does education improve adherence to a training monitoring program in recreational athletes?
Cite this brief: Stevens, Chris. 'Does education improve adherence to a training monitoring program in recreational athletes?'. Acume. https://www.acume.org/r/does-education-improve-adherence-to-a-training-monitoring-program-in-recreational-athletes/
Brief created by: Dr Chris Stevens | Year brief made: 2024
Original research:
- McGuigan, H., Stevens, C., & et al., ‘Does education improve adherence to a training monitoring program in recreational athletes?’ 18(1) (pp. 101–113) https://doi.org/10.1177/17479541211070789. – https://doi.org/10.1177/17479541211070789
Research brief:
This study evaluates whether educational interventions can enhance adherence to a training monitoring program among recreational athletes, and examines the effect on burnout, stress, and recovery while exploring athlete perspectives.
Training monitoring is designed to balance training load and recovery, potentially preventing negative outcomes such as overtraining and burnout. Despite its benefits, adherence is typically low, partly due to athletes’ limited understanding of monitoring’s purpose and benefits. Educational strategies, which have shown success in other health-related adherence programs, may improve adherence in athlete populations. This study aimed to assess the impact of a training monitoring education intervention on adherence, determine its effects on burnout and stress/recovery, and qualitatively explore participants’ experiences and perceptions of the education and monitoring process.
Findings:
The educational intervention did not significantly improve adherence rates.
Adherence was similarly low in both the education group (45.8%) and control group (43.0%) over the eight-week data collection period, with no statistically significant difference. Additionally, dropout rates were high (52%) across both groups.
This indicates that brief educational videos alone may not be sufficient to enhance adherence to training monitoring programs in recreational athletes.
Perceived knowledge of training monitoring improved over time in both groups.
Perceived understanding scores increased significantly from pre-study to post-study in both the control (21.5 to 32.1) and education (21.9 to 35.1) groups, indicating greater knowledge about training monitoring tools by the end of the study.
The use of a monitoring program may have contributed to increased knowledge, regardless of the educational intervention.
External factors influenced adherence more than the educational intervention.
Participants cited work demands, illness, holidays, and COVID-19 as factors affecting their ability to consistently log data. Participants also found the time commitment for data entry manageable, requiring approximately 5-10 minutes per day.
These factors suggest that lifestyle and external demands significantly impact adherence, highlighting the need for more flexible and personalized strategies.
Participants wanted more guidance on applying monitoring data to modify their training.
Interview feedback indicated that participants understood the monitoring process but lacked clarity on how to use the data for training modifications. Participants expressed a desire for actionable feedback and suggestions based on their data.
Training monitoring programs may be more effective if they include education on interpreting data and making data-driven training adjustments.
Feedback on training data could improve adherence and motivation.
Participants suggested that personalized feedback and alerts for significant changes in training patterns or wellness metrics would be beneficial. They also preferred feedback presented in visual formats, such as graphs, with notifications for significant changes.
Integrating tailored feedback into monitoring systems could enhance user engagement and adherence.
Advice:
Provide ongoing, interactive education to improve training monitoring adherence.
Incorporate personalized feedback mechanisms in training monitoring systems.
Develop flexible monitoring protocols that accommodate recreational athletes’ varying schedules.