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Sports Medicine
Published in: Sports Medicine 11/2019

01-11-2019 | Nutrition | Systematic Review

Effectiveness of Education Interventions Designed to Improve Nutrition Knowledge in Athletes: A Systematic Review

Authors: Ryan Tam, Kathryn L. Beck, Melinda M. Manore, Janelle Gifford, Victoria M. Flood, Helen O’Connor

Published in: Sports Medicine | Issue 11/2019

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Abstract

Background

A range of nutrition education strategies are used to assist athletes to improve nutrition knowledge. Evaluation of nutrition education interventions guides the delivery of efficacious nutrition education for athletes.

Aim

Our aim was to systematically review sport/general nutrition education interventions delivered to athletes, and to evaluate their effectiveness.

Methods

A search was conducted using terms related to nutrition knowledge, athletes, education, and intervention. Included studies had to be conducted in athletes (all calibres), use a scored nutrition knowledge assessment tool, and measure knowledge before and after a nutrition education intervention. Peer-reviewed and unpublished theses were included.

Results

Thirty-two manuscripts (randomised controlled trial, n = 13; single-arm pre/post design, n = 19) met the inclusion criteria. Participants (n = 2180; mean age 17.4 ± 1.7 years) were mostly female (66.1%), university-level (56.3%) athletes based in the US (75%). Comparison of different education methods was limited since the majority of interventions (n = 28/36, 77.8%) used face-to-face education. Most intervention conditions (n = 19) had a total contact time of < 300 min (5 h). The majority of interventions (n = 30, 85.7%) reported significant knowledge improvement, with a mean increase of 16.1 ± 0.7% (mean effect size 1.72; range 0.4–17.1). Only 15.6% of studies used well-validated knowledge assessment tools (more than three types of validity or reliability testing).

Conclusions

Most interventions reported a significant improvement in nutrition knowledge. Unfortunately, the wide range of knowledge assessment tools with limited validation, and the predominant use of face-to-face interventions, prohibits identification of the most effective modality and dose for nutrition education in athletes.
Appendix
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Metadata
Title
Effectiveness of Education Interventions Designed to Improve Nutrition Knowledge in Athletes: A Systematic Review
Authors
Ryan Tam
Kathryn L. Beck
Melinda M. Manore
Janelle Gifford
Victoria M. Flood
Helen O’Connor
Publication date
01-11-2019
Publisher
Springer International Publishing
Keyword
Nutrition
Published in
Sports Medicine / Issue 11/2019
Print ISSN: 0112-1642
Electronic ISSN: 1179-2035
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-019-01157-y

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