AUTHOR=Murofushi Yuka , Kawata Yujiro , Yamaguchi Shinji , Nakamura Miyuki , Takazawa Yuji , Naito Hisashi 

TITLE=Relationship between the level of willingness to learn about anti-doping and objective knowledge among Japanese university athletes: A cross-sectional study

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Sports and Active Living

VOLUME=4

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/sports-and-active-living/articles/10.3389/fspor.2022.955636

DOI=10.3389/fspor.2022.955636

ISSN=2624-9367

ABSTRACT=<p>Previous studies have indicated that athletes' anti-doping knowledge is inadequate. Athletes' willingness to learn about anti-doping (<italic>willingness to learn</italic>) may influence their anti-doping knowledge, but the actual situation is unclear. This study aimed to determine the relationship between athletes' <italic>willingness to learn</italic> about anti-doping and their objective measurement knowledge and explore directions for educational interventions. The eligible participants were 971 male and 802 female university athletes. We used the ALPHA test (12 questions/four choices; passing index: ≥10 points/80% correct answer rate) to assess objective anti-doping knowledge. The <italic>willingness to learn</italic> question was, “Would you like to learn more about anti-doping?” Responses were given on a 4-point scale ranging from 1: strongly disagree to 4: strongly agree. An ANCOVA was conducted with four levels of <italic>willingness to learn</italic> as the independent variable and ALPHA correct answer rate as the dependent variable, adjusting for confounding factors (years of athletic experience and anti-doping education experience). The percentage of athletes (%) and each ALPHA correct answer rate (%) by the level of <italic>willingness to learn</italic> was 1: strongly disagree, <italic>n</italic> = 1.64%, 61.78%; 2: somewhat disagree, <italic>n</italic> = 13.14%, 62.38%; 3: somewhat agree, <italic>n</italic> = 62.94%, 64.08%; 4: strongly agree, <italic>n</italic> = 22.28%, 67.11%. The ALPHA correct answer rates showed significant differences in the main effect by the level of <italic>willingness to learn</italic> [<italic>F</italic><sub>(3, 1767)</sub> = 2.873, <italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.05, η<sup>2</sup> = 0.01], although the effect size was small, and multiple comparisons showed no significant differences between the levels. The results indicated that the ALPHA correct answer rate did not reach 80% even for the “strongly agree” level of <italic>willingness to learn</italic>, suggesting that information on anti-doping may be inadequate. The need to provide sufficient educational content to improve knowledge was evident.</p>