Abstract
Background. People with disabilities can benefit from community-based physical activity programs. However, there is a lack of evidence-based tools to support kinesiologists’ training within these adapted physical activity programs, such as Adaptavie and Viomax. The purpose of this study was to co-create and evaluate the implementation of physical activity training modules to meet the needs of Adaptavie and Viomax for improved staff training. Methods. A pre-post quasi-experimental design was conducted to evaluate the changes in capability, opportunity, and motivation (COM-B) of kinesiologists (N=14) after completing nine training modules on motivational interviewing, five self-enactable behaviour change techniques and adapted physical activity prescription. Participants' ability to apply the concepts from the modules and the quality of skills used were assessed using the MITI 4.2.1 coding tool during testing on a standardized mock client. Participants also rated the feasibility of each module. Results. Medium to large effects were observed in participants' capability (Hedge’s g= 0.67-1.19) across 8/9 modules, opportunity (Hedge’s g= 0.77-1.38) across all modules, and motivation (Hedge’s g= 0.58-1.03) across 6/9 modules. All 9 modules were rated as feasible. When opportunities presented themselves, 77.78% to 100 % of participants used the five BCTs in the mock client session. All participants had successful attempts to apply the action planning and problem solving BCTs. Participants demonstrated good use of technical and relational motivational interviewing strategies, complex reflections, and favored adherent motivational interviewing language over non-adherent language. Conclusion. Training kinesiologists is feasible and effective, with potential to enhance adapted physical activity programs for individuals with disabilities.
