The Effects of the iPlayClean Education Programme on Doping Attitudes and Susceptibility to use Banned Substances among High-Level Adolescent Athletes from the UK: A Cluster-Randomised Control Trial

Nicholls, Adam; Morley, David; Thompson, Mark A.; Huang, Chao; Abt, Grant; Rothwell, Martyn; Cope, Edward; Ntoumanis, Nikos

Abstract

Background: This study examined the effects of the iPlayClean anti-doping intervention on attitudes towards doping and susceptibility, and whether delivery mode affected the results.
Methods: A total of 1,081 high-level UK athletes (14-18 years old, 904 males, 177 females) were cluster-randomised to the control (11 teams/organisations/schools, 314 athletes), face-to-face group presentation (8 teams/organisations/schools, 254 athletes), online (11 teams/organisations/schools, 251 athletes), or face-to-face presentation with online access (5 teams/organisations/schools, 262 athletes).
Results: Compared to the control group, all modes of the iPlayClean anti-doping education programme reduced favourable attitudes towards doping immediately after the intervention, which was sustained across all intervention groups 8 weeks later. All delivery modes impacted doping susceptibility immediately after the intervention, in comparison to the control group, but the effects were only sustained for the face-to-face presentation group.
Conclusion: Contrary to findings within previous anti-doping interventions, we have shown that doping attitudes can be changed and that the results can be sustained across all modes of delivery, 8 weeks later. Research is required to assess for how long these changes are sustained, and how often anti-doping education should be delivered to high-level athletes to reinforce clean play values.

Citation

Nicholls, A., Morley, D., Thompson, M. A., Huang, C., Abt, G., Rothwell, M., Cope, E., & Ntoumanis, N. (in press). The Effects of the iPlayClean Education Programme on Doping Attitudes and Susceptibility to use Banned Substances among High-Level Adolescent Athletes from the UK: A Cluster-Randomised Control Trial. International Journal of Drug Policy,

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jun 4, 2020
• Deposit Date: Jun 5, 2020
• Journal: International Journal of Drug Policy
• Print ISSN: 0955-3959
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Public URL: https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/3515796