README

DATA COLLECTION

This study evaluated two e-­learning tools, the Dopinglinkki e-learning course and the Safe You information app, which were designed to support fitness industry knowledge of performance and image enhancing drugs (PIEDs).

Data were collected in three countries (Finland, Greece, and Lithuania). For the evaluation of the e-learning course, data from 51 participants was included in the analysis (Finland = 17, 11 female; Greece = 20, 5 female; Lithuania = 14, 10 female). The twenty-five participants evaluating the e-learning course described themselves as fitness instructors, four as coaches, and the remaining were a mixture of students, gym owners/managers, and health promotion workers in the gyms (e.g., physiotherapists). Their mean length of working experience was 10.2  years (± 7.6) and twenty-eight of the participants had at least an undergraduate degree (54.9%), with the rest reporting high school qualifications or equivalent. 

For the evaluation of the information app, 19 participants from Greece (n=12 males) took part. Seven described themselves as coaches, 6 as personal trainers, 3 as group fitness Instructors, and 2 as gym owners. They had worked a mean of 7.26 years (± 3.1) in the fitness industry, and all had University degrees (11 Masters Level Degree; 8 Undergraduate). Although none had previously received specialist qualifications related to PIED use, two reported attending specialist seminars in the past. 

MATERIALS
The content of the survey was informed by previous research (e.g. Begley et al., 2017), the study research aims and objectives, and included items based on the Theoretical Framework of Acceptability (TFA) (Sekhon et al., 2017). The TFA was developed to support assessment of intervention acceptability. The survey included questions about participants (e.g. demographics, their role, experience) and their clients (i.e. nature of PIED using client); current PIED practice (e.g. current and desired responses to PIED use, previous relevant training); and their current sources of PIED information. There was also a section to assess participants’ awareness of the various adverse health effects of PIED use, and which they had encountered amongst their clients. Additionally, there was a section of PIEDs and society aiming to gain insight into their general views on PIED use, the participants’ values regarding PIED use and perceptions of acceptability of use and legal status. The survey also had questions related to their experience of using the PIED e-learning course, obtaining information via internet and self-assessment of learning goals based on each tool core learning goals. The same survey, adjusted to the content of an app was used to evaluate participants’ opinions about using the app. 

METADATA
 A description of the variable labels of the database is provided in the Excel spreadsheet Survey items - ehealth

REFERENCES
Begley, E., McVeigh, J., Hope, V., Bates, G., Glass, R., Campbell, J., & Smith, J. (2017). Image and performance enhancing drugs: 2016 National survey results. Liverpool: Liverpool John Moores University.
Sekhon, M., Cartwright, M., & Francis, J. J. (2017). Acceptability of healthcare interventions: an overview of reviews and development of a theoretical framework. BMC Health Services Research, 17(1), 88.

Contact:

H.sumnall@ljmu.ac.uk