Sources of practice knowledge among Australian fitness trainers

This study aims to describe sources of practice knowledge among Australian fitness trainers. In July 2014, 9100 Australian fitness trainers were invited to complete an online survey. Respondents reported the frequency of use of eight sources of practice knowledge (e.g. fitness magazines, academic texts). In a separate survey, exercise science experts (n = 27) ranked each source as either (1) ‘high-quality’ or (2) ‘low-quality’. Proportions of users of ‘high-quality’ sources were calculated across demographic (age, sex) and fitness industry-related characteristics (qualification, setting, role). A multivariate logistic regression anal ysis assessed the odds of being classified as a user of high-quality sources, adjusting for demographic and fitness industry-related factors. Out of 1185 fitness trainers (response rate = 13.0%), aged 17–72 years, 47.6% (95% CI, 44.7–50.4%) were classified as frequent users of high-quality so urces of practice knowledge. In the adjusted analysis, compared to trainers aged 17–26 years, those aged ≥61 years (OR, 2.15; 95% CI, 1.05–4.38) and 40–50 years (OR, 1.54; 95% CI, 1.02–2.31) were more likely to be classified as a user of high-quality sources. When compared to trainers w orking in large centres, those working in outdoor settings (OR, 1.81; 95% CI, 1.23–2.65) and medium centres (OR, 1.59; 95% CI, 1.12–2.29) were more likely to be classified as users of high-quality sources. Our findings suggest that effort...
Source: Translational Behavioral Medicine - Category: International Medicine & Public Health Source Type: research