Abstract
In 2011, SCI Action Canada developed an online training tool, the Knowledge Mobilization Training Series (KMTS), to enhance health care professionals' knowledge and confidence for promoting physical activity (PA) in the spinal cord injury (SCI) community. This study focuses on the first KMTS module - “Physical Activity Guidelines for Adults with SCI” (PAG-SCI). The purposes of this study were to examine the characteristics and participation pattern of the KMTS users, and to determine whether participation influenced users' social cognitions for promoting the PAG-SCI. The KMTS was advertised through SCI Action Canada’s community partners, ‘outreach events’, and website. Users (N=44, Mage=31.1±15.2 years, 66% female) completed a pre-module questionnaire examining attitudes, self-efficacy, and intentions for promoting the PAG-SCI. Eleven of the 44 users completed the same questionnaire following participation. Many users were employed as either rehabilitation therapists (25%) or health promoters (23%), and most (52%) reported working with up to 10 adults with SCI on a frequent basis. Approximately 39% of users viewed all five of the module sections (M=3.2±1.7); however, a decline in participation was seen, with less than half of users viewing the last three module sections. Separate repeated measures ANCOVAs, controlling for the number of sections viewed, showed a trend for an increase in users' attitudes for promoting the PAG-SCI (F(1,9)=3.37, p=.10, partial n2=.27). No significant changes or trends were found for self-efficacy or intentions (ps>.19, partial n2<.18). Future research is planned to examine users’ perceptions of KMTS in order to enhance user participation and cognitions for promoting PA.Acknowledgments: This study was funded by the Rick Hansen Institute.