Evaluation of Awareness, Use, and Perceptions of Injury Prevention Programs Among Youth Sport Coaches in Poland

<b>Background/Objectives</b>: Injury prevention programs (IPPs) are evidence-based interventions that reduce musculoskeletal injuries in youth sports. Despite their proven benefits, the adoption of IPPs by coaches remains limited. This study aimed to evaluate the awareness, usage, and perceptions of IPPs among youth sports coaches in Poland and to identify factors associated with their implementation. <b>Methods</b>: A cross-sectional study was conducted using a web-based survey tailored to youth sports coaches in Poland. Coaches of athletes aged 9-17 were recruited through targeted outreach to clubs and professional networks. The survey assessed IPP awareness, implementation, perceptions, and sources of information. Statistical analyses included chi-square tests, non-parametric comparisons, Firth's logistic regression, and cluster profiling. <b>Results</b>: Only 54.6% of coaches (59 out of 108) were aware of IPPs, and among them, just 47.5% reported using them. No significant associations were found between IPP use and demographic variables such as gender, sport, or place of residence. Coaches who were aware of IPPs were significantly younger than those who were unaware (<i>p</i> = 0.029). The information source was the strongest predictor of IPP implementation: coaches trained via formal courses were over 20 times more likely to use IPPs compared to those learning from peers (OR = 20.4, <i>p</i> < 0.001). While coaches generally perceived IPPs as beneficial for fitness and recovery, 28.6% expressed doubts about their effectiveness in reducing injury risk. <b>Conclusions</b>: Despite broadly positive beliefs, only 47.5% of coaches who were aware of IPPs reported using them. Formal training significantly enhances the likelihood of adoption. These findings emphasize the need for structured educational efforts and improved dissemination strategies to promote evidence-based injury prevention in youth sports settings.

Authors

Institutions

Publication Details

Journal
Journal of Clinical Medicine
Published
2025-07-12
DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm14144951
Primary Topic
Sports injuries and prevention
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00
Controls
|||
ALL TIME
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
article

Evaluation of Awareness, Use, and Perceptions of Injury Prevention Programs Among Youth Sport Coaches in Poland

Łukasz Radzimiński, Jakub Hinca, Bartosz Wilczyński, Katarzyna Zorena et al.
1 links
Journal of Clinical Medicine
Sports injuries and prevention
article

Evaluation of Awareness, Use, and Perceptions of Injury Prevention Programs Among Youth Sport Coaches in Poland

Łukasz Radzimiński, Jakub Hinca, Bartosz Wilczyński, Katarzyna Zorena, Patryk Szczurowski
article en

Abstract

<b>Background/Objectives</b>: Injury prevention programs (IPPs) are evidence-based interventions that reduce musculoskeletal injuries in youth sports. Despite their proven benefits, the adoption of IPPs by coaches remains limited. This study aimed to evaluate the awareness, usage, and perceptions of IPPs among youth sports coaches in Poland and to identify factors associated with their implementation. <b>Methods</b>: A cross-sectional study was conducted using a web-based survey tailored to youth sports coaches in Poland. Coaches of athletes aged 9-17 were recruited through targeted outreach to clubs and professional networks. The survey assessed IPP awareness, implementation, perceptions, and sources of information. Statistical analyses included chi-square tests, non-parametric comparisons, Firth's logistic regression, and cluster profiling. <b>Results</b>: Only 54.6% of coaches (59 out of 108) were aware of IPPs, and among them, just 47.5% reported using them. No significant associations were found between IPP use and demographic variables such as gender, sport, or place of residence. Coaches who were aware of IPPs were significantly younger than those who were unaware (<i>p</i> = 0.029). The information source was the strongest predictor of IPP implementation: coaches trained via formal courses were over 20 times more likely to use IPPs compared to those learning from peers (OR = 20.4, <i>p</i> < 0.001). While coaches generally perceived IPPs as beneficial for fitness and recovery, 28.6% expressed doubts about their effectiveness in reducing injury risk. <b>Conclusions</b>: Despite broadly positive beliefs, only 47.5% of coaches who were aware of IPPs reported using them. Formal training significantly enhances the likelihood of adoption. These findings emphasize the need for structured educational efforts and improved dissemination strategies to promote evidence-based injury prevention in youth sports settings.

Journal of Clinical MedicineVol. 14(14)
University of Gdańsk (PL), Wyższa Szkoła Zarządzania w Gdańsku (PL), Gdansk School of Higher Education (PL), Gdansk University of Physical Education and Sport (PL), Gdańsk Medical University (PL)
Openalex Percentile: Top 78%
Sports injuries and prevention
AI Navigator

Ask Laika to Summarize, Analyze, and Connect papers live on the map.

Summarize Papers & Methodologies

Extract key findings, datasets, and comparative methods across publications.

Benchmark Rankings & Visual Analytics

Rank top research institutions, authors, funders, topics, and journals by Field-Weighted Citation Impact (FWCI) and paper volume with instant charts.

Connect Distant Disciplines

Bridge topological clusters on the map to find hidden collaborative intersections.