Lion Hearts: applying implementation mapping to plan the delivery of a family-based physical activity intervention in community CrossFit affiliates.
4 affiliations
- 1Department of Kinesiology, College of Health and Human Development, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, United States.
- 2Department of Health and Human Development, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States.
- 3Department of Health & Clinical Sciences, College of Health Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States.
- 4Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Medicine, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, United States.
Abstract
Background
Community-based physical activity interventions face challenges in adoption, implementation, and sustainability. Lion Hearts is a family-based physical activity intervention designed to promote cardiovascular health among mothers and children aged 3-6 years. This study applied Implementation Mapping during intervention development to identify implementation determinants and develop stakeholder-informed strategies for subsequent pilot testing.Methods
The five iterative tasks of Implementation Mapping were applied through a co-design process with seven CrossFit affiliate owner-coaches: (1) conducting an implementation needs and assets assessment and identifying adopters and implementers; (2) specifying implementation outcomes, performance objectives, determinants, and change objectives; (3) selecting theoretical change methods and implementation strategies; (4) producing implementation protocols and materials; and (5) developing a prospective implementation-evaluation plan. Two 60-min co-design sessions were conducted approximately eight weeks apart. The first elicited barriers and facilitators to adoption and delivery within affiliate settings. Audio recordings were transcribed verbatim, and three researchers reviewed and coded both transcripts using structured matrices, supplemented by facilitator notes. Findings were synthesized using rapid qualitative analysis and integrated with behavioral theory and implementation science frameworks to identify implementation determinants and develop implementation strategies and materials. This study applied the five tasks of Implementation Mapping to identify implementation determinants and develop stakeholder-informed strategies, delivery supports, and a prospective evaluation plan for subsequent pilot testing.Results
Stakeholders identified implementation determinants related to coach knowledge and self-efficacy, participant engagement and competing demands, class structure and flow, scheduling, staffing, equipment availability, and compatibility with affiliate workflows. These findings informed implementation strategies and delivery supports targeting affiliate owners and coaches, including coach training resources, structured session templates, class-flow guidance, and fidelity-monitoring tools. Performance objectives and an implementation logic model were developed to specify hypothesized pathways linking determinants and strategies to prospective implementation outcomes. An evaluation plan was developed to assess reach, adoption, feasibility, acceptability, fidelity, and maintenance during subsequent pilot implementation.Conclusion
Implementation Mapping and stakeholder co-design produced a theory-informed, contextually responsive implementation package for Lion Hearts. Although implementation outcomes have not yet been evaluated, the resulting strategies, materials, and prospective evaluation plan are positioned for testing and refinement in community fitness settings.Clinical trial registration
ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT07147387.
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BibTeX
@article{watkins2026lion,
title = {{Lion Hearts: applying implementation mapping to plan the delivery of a family-based physical activity intervention in community CrossFit affiliates.}},
author = {Janette Watkins and Janelle Goss and Kelton Mehls and Ali Marshall and Deirdre Dlugonski and Danielle Symons Downs},
journal = {Frontiers in public health},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3389/fpubh.2026.1970725},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42903273},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Lion Hearts: applying implementation mapping to plan the delivery of a family-based physical activity intervention in community CrossFit affiliates.
AU - Janette Watkins
AU - Janelle Goss
AU - Kelton Mehls
AU - Ali Marshall
AU - Deirdre Dlugonski
AU - Danielle Symons Downs
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/06
JO - Frontiers in public health
DO - 10.3389/fpubh.2026.1970725
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42903273
AB - Background Community-based physical activity interventions face challenges in adoption, implementation, and sustainability. Lion Hearts is a family-based physical activity intervention designed to promote cardiovascular health among mothers and children aged 3-6 years. This study applied Implementation Mapping during intervention development to identify implementation determinants and develop stakeholder-informed strategies for subsequent pilot testing.Methods The five iterative tasks of Implementation Mapping were applied through a co-design process with seven CrossFit affiliate owner-coaches: (1) conducting an implementation needs and assets assessment and identifying adopters and implementers; (2) specifying implementation outcomes, performance objectives, determinants, and change objectives; (3) selecting theoretical change methods and implementation strategies; (4) producing implementation protocols and materials; and (5) developing a prospective implementation-evaluation plan. Two 60-min co-design sessions were conducted approximately eight weeks apart. The first elicited barriers and facilitators to adoption and delivery within affiliate settings. Audio recordings were transcribed verbatim, and three researchers reviewed and coded both transcripts using structured matrices, supplemented by facilitator notes. Findings were synthesized using rapid qualitative analysis and integrated with behavioral theory and implementation science frameworks to identify implementation determinants and develop implementation strategies and materials. This study applied the five tasks of Implementation Mapping to identify implementation determinants and develop stakeholder-informed strategies, delivery supports, and a prospective evaluation plan for subsequent pilot testing.Results Stakeholders identified implementation determinants related to coach knowledge and self-efficacy, participant engagement and competing demands, class structure and flow, scheduling, staffing, equipment availability, and compatibility with affiliate workflows. These findings informed implementation strategies and delivery supports targeting affiliate owners and coaches, including coach training resources, structured session templates, class-flow guidance, and fidelity-monitoring tools. Performance objectives and an implementation logic model were developed to specify hypothesized pathways linking determinants and strategies to prospective implementation outcomes. An evaluation plan was developed to assess reach, adoption, feasibility, acceptability, fidelity, and maintenance during subsequent pilot implementation.Conclusion Implementation Mapping and stakeholder co-design produced a theory-informed, contextually responsive implementation package for Lion Hearts. Although implementation outcomes have not yet been evaluated, the resulting strategies, materials, and prospective evaluation plan are positioned for testing and refinement in community fitness settings.Clinical trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT07147387.
SN - 2296-2565
ER -