RE-AIM Evaluation Of The Japanese Government-funded Programs For Physical Activity Promotion

Dissemination and implementation strategies are pivotal for promoting physical activity. However, there is insufficient reporting on the dissemination and implementation processes and impacts of government-funded physical activity programs. PURPOSE: This study aimed to elucidate the implementation and impacts of the Japanese government-funded physical activity programs. METHODS: We evaluated the Exercise and Sports Habit Cultivation Project, a subsidy program to local governments by the Japan Sports Agency, using the RE-AIM framework (Reach, Efficacy/Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, and Maintenance). This study included 39 programs across 23 municipalities supported by the fund in 2021. The primary objective of the fund was to improve adults’ sports participation rates in municipalities. Information was gathered from the official program report and public data from local governments. RESULTS: Reach: The average population coverage of program participation (actual participants/the target population, e.g., adults aged 18 or older) was 2.8% (SD: 3.4). Effectiveness: Participants engaging in sports at least once a week increased from 59.0% to 74.2%, involving an average of 249 participants in each program. However, changes in sports participation rates across the entire target population in municipalities were not reported. Adoption: Due to a limited number of programs designed for large-scale dissemination, most programs could not be evaluated for Adoption. The average number of collaborating external organizations was 9. Implementation: The average number of education deliveries (e.g., group exercise classes) was 50 per year. Finally, the Maintenance aspect of the program should be evaluated in the future. CONCLUSIONS: The government-funded programs achieved low reach, and due to a lack of information on some RE-AIM elements, the impact of the programs could not be appropriately evaluated. Evaluating population-level behavior change (i.e., sports participation rate among the target population) is crucial for program improvement and achieving a national increase in sports and physical activity participation. Future programs should incorporate strategic dissemination and implementation.