The co-development and evaluation of an e-learning course on spinal cord injury physical activity counselling: a randomized controlled trial.
Femke Hoekstra, Heather L Gainforth, Rogier Broeksteeg, Stephanie Corras, Delaney Collins, Electra Eleftheriadou, Sonja Gaudet, Emily E Giroux, Laura S Kuipers, Shannon McCallum, Jasmin K Ma, Erica de Passillé, Diane Rakiecki, Shannon Rockall, Rita van den Berg-Emons, Anniek van Vilsteren, Megan Williamson, Jereme Wilroy, Kathleen A Martin Ginis
Author Information
Femke Hoekstra: School of Health and Exercise Sciences, The University of British Columbia, Kelowna, BC, Canada. femke.hoekstra@ubc.ca. ORCID
Heather L Gainforth: School of Health and Exercise Sciences, The University of British Columbia, Kelowna, BC, Canada.
Rogier Broeksteeg: Rijndam Rehabilitation Institute, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Stephanie Corras: School of Kinesiology and Health Studies, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada.
Delaney Collins: School of Occupational Therapy, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada.
Electra Eleftheriadou: Centre for Teaching and Learning, The University of British Columbia, Kelowna, BC, Canada.
Sonja Gaudet: Spinal Cord Injury British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
Emily E Giroux: School of Health and Exercise Sciences, The University of British Columbia, Kelowna, BC, Canada.
Laura S Kuipers: VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Shannon McCallum: Therapeutic Recreation Program, St. Lawrence College, Kingston, ON, Canada.
Jasmin K Ma: International Collaboration on Repair Discoveries (ICORD), The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
Erica de Passillé: Horizon Health Network, Stan Cassidy Centre for Rehabilitation, Fredericton, NB, Canada.
Diane Rakiecki: School of Health and Exercise Sciences, The University of British Columbia, Kelowna, BC, Canada.
Shannon Rockall: Praxis Spinal Cord Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
Rita van den Berg-Emons: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
Anniek van Vilsteren: Vogellanden Revalidatie Centrum, Zwolle, the Netherlands.
Megan Williamson: Ocean Rehab and Fitness, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
Jereme Wilroy: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA.
Kathleen A Martin Ginis: School of Health and Exercise Sciences, The University of British Columbia, Kelowna, BC, Canada.
BACKGROUND: Health, fitness and lifestyle professionals can play important roles in promoting physical activity in groups at risk of developing an inactive lifestyle, such as people with spinal cord injury (SCI). Tailored counselling is a promising tool to promote and improve physical activity levels. To support professionals to effectively have a conversation about physical activity with clients with SCI, evidence-based training and resources are needed. This project aimed to (1) co-develop an e-learning course on best practices for SCI physical activity counselling and, (2) examine the effectiveness and usability of this course. METHODS: Guided by the technology-enhanced learning (TEL) evaluation framework, we used a systematic, multistep approach to co-develop and evaluate an e-learning course. The development process was informed by input and feedback from a diverse group of end-users and experts (n > 160) via online surveys and (think-aloud) interviews. A randomized controlled trial was used to compare learning outcomes (post-knowledge and self-efficacy) between participants who completed the course (intervention group) and the wait-listed control group. Usability, learning experiences, and satisfaction were assessed among all participants. RESULTS: Forty-one participants (21 intervention-group; 20 control-group) with various backgrounds (e.g., lifestyle counsellors, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, recreation therapists, fitness trainers) enrolled in the randomized controlled trial. After completing the course, participants in the intervention group showed significantly improved knowledge on the best practices for SCI physical activity counselling and higher self-efficacy for using these best practices in conversations with clients with SCI compared to the control group (p <.001). Participants reported above average usability scores, positive learning experiences, and high levels of satisfaction when completing the course. CONCLUSION: We used a systematic, multi-step, theory-informed approach to co-develop and evaluate an evidence-based e-learning course on SCI physical activity counselling to support professionals to promote physical activity in their daily practices. The overall positive findings demonstrate that the e-learning course is feasible and ready for further implementation in various health and community settings. Implementation of the e-learning course can help professionals improve the physical activity support they provide to their clients, and subsequently increase physical activity participation in people with SCI.
