How European Fans in Training (EuroFIT), a lifestyle change program for men delivered in football clubs, achieved its effect: a mixed methods process evaluation embedded in a randomised controlled trial

Bunn, Christopher; Palmer, Victoria; Chng, Nai Rui; Andersen, Eivind; Gray, Cindy M.; Hunt, Kate; Jelsma, Judith G. M.; Morgan, Heather; der Sanden, Maria Nijhuis-van; Pereira, Hugo V.; Philpott, Matthew; Roberts, Glyn C.; Rooksby, John; Røynesdal, Øystein B.; Silva, Marlene N.; Sørensen, Marit; Teixeira, Pedro J.; van Achterberg, Theo; van de Glind, Irene; van Mechelen, Willem; van Nassau, Femke; van der Ploeg, Hidde P.; Wyke, Sally

doi:10.1186/s12889-023-15419-y

Table 1 Research objectives, Theory of Change element considered and data collection methods for the EuroFIT process evaluation

From: How European Fans in Training (EuroFIT), a lifestyle change program for men delivered in football clubs, achieved its effect: a mixed methods process evaluation embedded in a randomised controlled trial

	Study team implementation notes	Expressions of interest and recruitment via a web-based form	Baseline, post program and 12 M questionnaires EuroFIT participants (n = 500)	Participant attendance sheets for each session (n = 360)	Coach questionnaires: post training and post program (n = 30)	Participants’ SitFIT and MatchFIT usage logs	Observation of sessions (n = 30)	Interviews with club representatives (n = 15) and coaches (n = 15) plus interviews with club representatives of interested clubs not able to take part	Post program and 12 M focus group discussions with EuroFIT participants (n = 30)	Convergence Agreement (A), Partial Agreement (PA), Silence (S), Dissonance (D), Not Applicable (N/A)
Q1. How was implementation achieved in football clubs and countries and what was delivered?
1. Sources and procedures for recruitment of clubs and reported decision making in clubs in relation to participating in EuroFIT	X							X		A
Element of theory of change considered—resources	X							X		A
2. Sources and procedures for recruitment of coaches to deliver the EuroFIT program in participating clubs	X									NA
Element of theory of change considered—resources	X									NA
3. Experiences of coach training and its usefulness in program delivery								X		NA
Element of theory of change considered—resources								X		NA
4. Sources and procedures for recruitment of participants – how men were attracted		X								NA
Element of theory of change considered—attract men		X								NA
5. Participation in the EuroFIT program including number of sessions attended and the reported extent to which SitFIT and MatchFIT were used			X	X		X				PA
Element of theory of change considered—initiate change			X	X		X				PA
6. The number of sessions and key elements of the EuroFIT program that were delivered by coaches							X			NA
Element of theory of change considered—initiate and maintain change							X			NA
7. The extent to which coaches delivered the EuroFIT program according to the coach manual and training							X	X		A
Element of theory of change considered—initiate and maintain change							X	X		A
Q2. What were the processes through which the EuroFIT program affected outcomes?
8. Participants’ reported reasons for joining, or continuing with the EuroFIT program			X						X	A, D in relation to 'men like me' and 'club importance'
Element of theory of change considered—attract men			X						X	A, D in relation to 'men like me' and 'club importance'
9. Interaction between men and between men and coaches during the program							X			NA
Element of theory of change considered—attract men and initiate change							X			NA
10. How coaches used the coach manual and associated materials to deliver the EuroFIT program							X	X		PA
Element of theory of change considered—initiate and maintain change							X	X		PA
11. Coaches’ views and experiences of the EuroFIT program and materials and in particular, which elements of the program were viewed as helpful and unhelpful in supporting participants to make lifestyle changes								X		NA
Element of theory of change considered—initiate and maintain change								X		NA
12. Participants’ views and experiences of the EuroFIT program and materials, which elements of the program were viewed as helpful and unhelpful in supporting them to make changes and how the environment coaches created influenced participant responses. Pay particular attention to the use of the toolbox of behaviour change techniques including SitFIT, MatchFIT, goal setting and self-monitoring			X						X	PA, D in relation to objectively measured sedentary time
Element of theory of change considered—maintain change			X						X	PA, D in relation to objectively measured sedentary time
13. Participants’ experiences of maintaining (or not) any lifestyle changes made as a result of the program 12 months after baseline									X	NA
Element of theory of change considered—initiate and maintain change									X	NA
14. Participants’ views of which aspects of the program that were helpful and which less so for supporting long-term change			X						X	A
Element of theory of change considered—initiate and maintain change			X						X	A
15. The characteristics of coaches that delivered EuroFIT in relation to background, demographic characteristics, skills, and experiences					X			X		NA
Element of theory of change considered—resources					X			X		NA

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ISSN: 1471-2458

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