Scaling up PROSCeSS intervention in France: a systems approach to health-promoting sports clubs

Abstract

Sports clubs have been encouraged by political and health authorities to exploit their health promotion potential. Yet, existing literature highlights a lack of systems thinking and coordination, limiting sports clubs’ capacity to implement sustainable health promotion interventions. The aim of this article is to describe the scaling-up process and the initial systems map of a health promotion intervention in sports clubs – the PROSCeSS intervention – and to discuss the use of the ExpandNet/WHO guide in this context.

A participatory research approach using the nine-step guide from the ExpandNet/WHO was used. Five 2-hour meetings, completed with feedback and questionnaires between meetings, involving 36 stakeholders (14 from public health, 7 from sports, 7 academics and 8 political actors, from local to national levels), were recorded. The data (notes, meeting minutes, questionnaires) were analysed using a deductive process based on the nine-step ExpandNet/WHO guide. Results enabled researchers to identify targets of the intervention, as well as challenges and facilitators for implementing health promotion interventions in sports clubs. Fifty political, sports, academic and public health organisations at local and regional levels were identified as being able to support the scaling-up of the intervention, endorsing different roles : 1) methodological support, 2) communication, 3) provision of resources, 4) advocacy and 5) research. Twenty-two actions were identified and prioritised to support organisations in fulfilling the role they can play in the institutionalisation and expansion of health promotion in sports clubs. This work contributes to strengthening the multi-level systems thinking needed for health promotion implementation in sports clubs, enhancing their societal role to support individuals’ health.