The high and growing global burden of physical inactivity stresses the need for effective implementation of evidence-based physical activity programmes (PAPs) across the life course. However, evidence-based programmes with proven effectiveness under controlled environments often fail when implemented in the real-world due to ineffective adaptation and poor implementation addressing context specific barriers. This leads to PAP failure and public health inequalities. The multi-sectoral Irish Physical Activity Research Collaboration (I-PARC) was established to bring physical activity researchers, policymakers, and practitioners together to address the inactivity pandemic. I-PARC’s systematic literature review and in-depth qualitative research revealed 37 barriers, 45 facilitators to successful implementation of community-based PAPs in Ireland. However, no information on how to adapt PAPs to local context, nor on effective strategies for overcoming implementation barriers, nor on developing implementation plans were provided. I-PARC 2.0 aims to adapt and implement existing evidence-based PAPs to improve implementation outcomes thus improving reach and effectiveness of these programmes in the real-world setting.
I-PARC 2.0 will develop, test and disseminate an evidence informed systematic process for the identification, selection and tailoring of PAPs for five implementation sites or ‘Active Cities’ (Cork, Dublin, Galway, Limerick and Waterford), and develop evidence-informed implementation strategies tailored to meet local barriers and constraints for each of these implementation sites. Work Package 1 (WP1) will identify and map PAPs for implementation by the Active Cities. WP2 with Active Cities’ stakeholders will i) tailor the PAP of their choice using evidence-informed adaptation methods for optimal fit to local context without compromising effectiveness; ii) develop evidence-informed implementation strategies tailored to local barriers and constraints, and iii) create PAP implementation plans for each site. WP3 will follow and assess the implementation process at each site from an operational perspective using both outcome and process evaluation. WP4 involves project management, dissemination and impact.
