title: Evaluation of a Theory-Based Intervention Aimed at Improving Coaches' Recommendations on Sports Nutrition to Their Athletes.
abstract: Coaches are a major source of nutrition information and influence for young athletes. Yet, most coaches do not have training in nutrition to properly guide their athletes.
  
  
  
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of an intervention aimed at improving the accuracy of coaches' recommendations on sports nutrition.
  
  
  
  This was a quasi-experimental study with a comparison group and an intervention group. Measurements were made at baseline, post-intervention, and after a 2-month follow-up period. Coaches' recommendations on sports nutrition during the follow-up period were recorded in a diary.
  
  
  
  High school coaches from various sports (n=41) were randomly assigned to a comparison group or an intervention group.
  
  
  
  Both groups attended two 90-minute sessions of a theory-based intervention targeting determinants of coaches' intention to provide recommendations on sports nutrition. The intervention group further received an algorithm that summarizes sports nutrition guidelines to help promote decision making on sports nutrition recommendations.
  
  
  
  Nutrition knowledge and accuracy of coaches' recommendations on sports nutrition.
  
  
  
  χ(2) analyses and t-tests were used to compare baseline characteristics; mixed and general linear model analyses were used to assess the change in response to the intervention and differences in behaviors, respectively.
  
  
  
  Coaches in the intervention vs comparison group provided more nutrition recommendations during the 2-month post-intervention period (mean number of recommendations per coach 25.7±22.0 vs 9.4±6.5, respectively; P=0.004) and recommendations had a greater accuracy (mean number of accurate recommendations per coach 22.4±19.9 [87.1%] vs 4.3±3.2 [46.1%], respectively; P<0.001). Knowledge was significantly increased post-intervention in both groups, but was maintained only in the intervention group during the 2-month follow-up (Pgroup*time=0.04).
  
  
  
  A theory-based intervention combined with a decision-making algorithm maintained coaches' sports nutrition knowledge level over time and helped them to provide more accurate recommendations on sports nutrition.
authors.forename: Raphaëlle
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jacob
authors.forename: Benoît
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lamarche
authors.forename: Véronique
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Provencher
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Laramée
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Valois
authors.forename: Claude
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Goulet
authors.forename: Vicky
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Drapeau
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D056352:Athletes; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D000071252:Mentoring / Q000379:methods*; D065228:Non-Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D018673:Nutrition Policy; D015397:Program Evaluation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D064133:Sports Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D064132:Sports Nutritional Sciences / Q000193:education*
keywords: Coaches; Health promotion; Knowledge; Sports nutrition; Theory-based intervention