Effects of tailored advice on injury prevention knowledge and behaviours in runners: Secondary analysis from a randomised controlled trial

Abstract

ObjectivesTo determine whether biweekly tailored advice was more effective than general advice at baseline alone for enhancing evidence-based running-related injury (RRI) prevention knowledge and behaviours in runners. DesignRandomised controlled trial, blinded statistical analysis, secondary analysis. SettingRecreational running clinics. ParticipantsRunning clinics were cluster randomised into intervention or control groups. All participants (n = 51) received general RRI prevention advice (baseline), after which the intervention group (n = 31) received additional biweekly tailored advice (weeks 3–11), before all participants completed a Final Questionnaire (week 13). Main outcome measuresBetween-group differences in change of evidence-based RRI prevention knowledge and behaviours. ResultsCompared to baseline, the number of correct knowledge responses significantly increased in the intervention group (5.77, 95% CI 4.73, 6.81) and remained unchanged in controls (0.25, 95% CI -1.04, 1.55), outlining a positive effect only in the intervention group (p = 2.06 × 10-8). The number of correct behaviour responses significantly increased in the intervention group (1.94, 95% CI 0.94, 2.93) however this increase was not significantly greater than controls (p = 0.075). ConclusionsBiweekly tailored advice improved RRI prevention knowledge in runners. Further research into the impact of knowledge and behavioural change on RRI occurrence is warranted.ISRCTN 17357362