Effectiveness of an online tailored intervention on determinants and behaviour to prevent running related sports injuries: A randomised controlled trial

Methods. Runners between 18 and 35 years were randomly assigned to the intervention (n=109) or control group (n=105). Participants in the intervention group were invited to visit the website for 30 minutes. Those in the control group were invited to read magazines that did not contain information about running, injuries or other sport related issues for 30 minutes. Online questionnaires were completed just before (TO) and immediately after the intervention (Ti), and after 3 months (T2). Outcome measures were knowledge, risk perception, attitude, intention and injury prevention behaviour. Objective. Sports injuries are one of the most common injuries in the modern Western society. In line with the increased interest in eHealth, a tailor-based online injury prevention intervention was developed to influence determinants and actual sports injury preventive behaviour. An effect study was carried out among runners. Results. Immediately after the intervention (Tl) an effect was found on all outcome measures. After three months (T2) the effect remained only for behaviours relating to warm-up and frequency of shoe replacement. Conclusion. Short-term (3 months) effects were demonstrated on determinants and actual performance of sports injury prevention behaviour. These results confirm the value of online tailored interventions for the dissemination of injury prevention knowledge.C