title: Mixed method evaluation of a community-based physical activity program using the RE-AIM framework: practical application in a real-world setting.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Communities are a pivotal setting in which to promote increases in child and adolescent physical activity behaviours. Interventions implemented in these settings require effective evaluation to facilitate translation of findings to wider settings. The aims of this paper are to i) present findings from a RE-AIM evaluation of a community-based physical activity program, and ii) review the methodological challenges faced when applying RE-AIM in practice.
  
  
  METHODS
  A single mixed-methods case study was conducted based on a concurrent triangulation design. Five sources of data were collected via interviews, questionnaires, archival records, documentation and field notes. Evidence was triangulated within RE-AIM to assess individual and organisational-level program outcomes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Inconsistent availability of data and a lack of robust reporting challenged assessment of all five dimensions. Reach, Implementation and setting-level Adoption were less successful, Effectiveness and Maintenance at an individual and organisational level were moderately successful. Only community-level Adoption was highly successful, reflecting the key program goal to provide community-wide participation in sport and physical activity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This research highlighted important methodological constraints associated with the use of RE-AIM in practice settings. Future evaluators wishing to use RE-AIM may benefit from a mixed-method triangulation approach to offset challenges with data availability and reliability.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Physical Activity and Nutrition Research, Deakin University, Burwood, VIC, 3125, Australia. h.koorts@deakin.edu.au.
authors.forename: Harriet
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Koorts
authors.affiliation: Department for Health, University of Bath, Bath, BA2 7AY, UK. f.b.gillison@bath.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Fiona
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gillison
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D003153:Community Health Services / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D009043:Motor Activity; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D015397:Program Evaluation / Q000379:methods*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires