The design, development, implementation and evaluation of IRISweb; A rugby-specific web-based injury surveillance system. (January 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Yeomans, Caithriona; Kenny, Ian C.; Cahalan, Roisin; Warrington, Giles D.; Harrison, Andrew J.; Hayes, Kevin; Lyons, Mark; Campbell, Mark J.; Glynn, Liam G.; Comyns, Thomas M.
• Is Part Of: Physical therapy in sport. Volume 35(2019)
• Page Start: 79
• Page End: 88
• Publication Date: 2019-01
• Subjects: Injury surveillance -- Sport -- Injury prevention -- Monitoring; Sports physical therapy -- Periodicals; Sports injuries -- Patients -- Rehabilitation -- Periodicals; Athletic Injuries -- diagnosis -- Periodicals; Athletic Injuries -- therapy -- Periodicals; Physical Therapy -- Periodicals; Sports Medicine -- Periodicals; 615.82088796
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ptsp.2018.11.007
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1466-853X

Abstract

Abstract: Objectives: To describe the development, implementation and evaluation of a comprehensive injury surveillance system. Design: The four phases; i) A survey of 58 medical professionals working in amateur rugby. ii) The design of a web-based injury surveillance system (IRISweb). iii) Recruitment of 21 of the top 58 amateur clubs to use IRISweb. iv) An evaluation survey of the 21 participating clubs. Setting: Irish amateur rugby clubs. Participants: Medical professionals working in amateur rugby. Main outcome measures: Phase one investigated the injury monitoring practices in operation prior to the IRIS project. Phase four investigated the effectiveness and usefulness of IRISweb. Results: Twenty-one clubs were recruited, however 2 clubs failed to provide a full season of data (10% dropout rate). Eighty-two percent of the remaining 19 clubs rated IRISweb as 'good' or 'very good'. Facilitators of injury surveillance were; increased player adherence (65%) and notifications to update the system (59%), however, poor player adherence (71%) and medical staff availability (24%) were the main barriers. Conclusions: The IRIS project is the first prospective long-term injury surveillance system in Irish amateur rugby, effectively tracking injuries to guide future evidence-based injury prevention strategies. This study highlights facilitators and barriers to injury surveillance within amateur sport. Highlights: The IRISweb system was rated as 'good' or 'very good' by 82% of the IRIS injury recorders. Facilitators to injury surveillance were; player adherence (65%) and regular notifications to update the system (59%). Poor player adherence (71%) and medical staff availability (24%) were the main barriers to conducting injury surveillance. All of the IRIS project participants would recommend the IRISweb system to other clubs.