AUTHOR=Sagoe Dominic , Johnsen Berit , Lindblad Bo , Normann Tom Are Jensen , Skogvoll Vidar , Heierdal Morten , Lauritzen Fredrik 

TITLE=A Mixed-Method Evaluation of a Prison Anti-doping Intervention: The Hercules Prison Program

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Sports and Active Living

VOLUME=Volume 3 - 2021

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/sports-and-active-living/articles/10.3389/fspor.2021.779218

DOI=10.3389/fspor.2021.779218

ISSN=2624-9367

ABSTRACT=The Norwegian Offender Mental Health and Addiction study denotes the need for physical activity and anti-doping interventions in Norwegian prisons. We developed and evaluated the efficacy of such intervention – the Hercules prison program. The program combines theoretical anti-doping lessons with practical strength training. The study adopts a mixed methods approach (pretest-posttest design) comprising a longitudinal survey, observation, informal conversations, and in-depth interviews. Survey respondents were 104 male prisoners aged 18 to 56 (M = 34.81, SD = 9.34) years from seven Norwegian prisons. Of these, 52 provided both baseline and posttest responses. Participants completed questionnaires including demographic, doping use, and psychophysical items/measures. At the end of the intervention, in-depth interviews were conducted with eleven of the survey respondents. The survey data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, as well as independent and paired samples t-tests. The qualitative data were analyzed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. A total of 7.5% and 33.3% of participants were current and former AAS users respectively, whereas 86.1% personally knew at least one current or former AAS user. Consistent with our expectation, there were increases in self-rated physical strength (t = -4.1, p < .001, d = 0.46) and strength training self-efficacy (t = -8.33, p < .001, d = 1.36), and a decrease in moral disengagement in doping (t = -4.05, p < .001, d = 0.52) from baseline to posttest. These findings are supported by the qualitative data. Notable success factors are relationship-building, instructors’ expertise and acceptability, and gatekeepers’ navigation and co-creation. The program provides valuable evidence of the potential benefits of combining anti-doping education with practical strength training in doping prevention in correctional settings.