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 controlled trial

Nicholls, Adam R.; 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. R., Morley, D., Thompson, M. A., Huang, C., Abt, G., Rothwell, M., Cope, E., & Ntoumanis, N. (2020). 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 controlled trial. International Journal of Drug Policy, 82, Article 102820. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugpo.2020.102820

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jun 5, 2020
• Online Publication Date: Jun 17, 2020
• Publication Date: 2020-08
• Deposit Date: Jun 18, 2020
• Publicly Available Date: Jun 18, 2021
• Journal: International Journal of Drug Policy
• Print ISSN: 0955-3959
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 82
• Article Number: 102820
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugpo.2020.102820
• Keywords: Banned substances; Intervention; Performance enhancement
• Public URL: https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/3515808
• Publisher URL: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0955395920301614