Physical Activity
Conditions
Keywords
physical activity, intervention, behaviour change, inactive adults, behaviour change techniques, well-being
Brief summary
There is a high prevalence of inactive adults in the United Kingdom (UK), many of whom suffer from conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and poor mental health. These problems often co-exist more frequently in areas of higher socio-economic deprivation. There is an ongoing need to test the effectiveness, acceptability, and sustainability of community physical activity interventions. The Active Herts programme is a community physical activity programme aimed at inactive adults aged 16 and over who have one or more risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and/or a mild to moderate mental health condition. The programme uses the latest evidence-based behaviour change techniques to target physical activity, wellbeing, and key drivers of behaviour from the COM-B ('Capability', 'Opportunity', 'Motivation' and 'Behaviour') model of behaviour change. This evaluation will follow a mixed-methods longitudinal (baseline, and 3, 6 and 12 month follow-ups) pragmatic observational design. Two types of programme are being delivered, each in a different area. In one, group participants will receive a behaviour change technique booklet, consultations (baseline, and optional at 3, 6, and 12 months), a booster phone call (week 2), motivational text messages (weeks 3, 6, and 12), and signposting to 12 weeks of exercise classes. In the other 'enhanced delivery' group, participants will receive the same but the 12 weeks of exercise will be free and tailored to their needs, and there will be optional exercise 'buddies' available. An outcome evaluation will assess changes in physical activity as the primary outcome, and sporting participation, sitting, wellbeing, psychological capability, and reflective motivation as secondary outcomes. A process evaluation will use both one-to-one interviews and focus groups to explore the views of stakeholders, delivery staff, and participants over three phases (set-up, deviations in the delivery of the intervention, and looking back over the intervention). Economic evaluation will examine the costs of the Active Herts programme against the benefits gained in terms of reduced risk of morbidity from a range of chronic conditions. This study will measure key drivers of physical activity using up to date behaviour change theory, allowing evaluation of not only whether physical activity has increased but also why. The research will inform the future development of a scalable intervention that can be more robustly tested in a randomised controlled trial.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALActive Herts
Active Herts is a community physical activity intervention aimed at inactive adults aged 16 and over who have one or more risk factors for CVD and/or a mild to moderate mental health condition. The programme uses the latest evidence-based behaviour change techniques to target physical activity, wellbeing, and key drivers of behaviour from the COM-B model of behaviour change.
Sponsors
University of Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire Sports Partnership
Sport England
Broxbourne Borough Council
East and North Hertfordshire Clinical Commisioning Group
Hertfordshire Valley Clinical Commisioning Group
Hertfordshire Public Health
University of East Anglia
Study design
Observational model
ECOLOGIC_OR_COMMUNITY
Time perspective
PROSPECTIVE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
16 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* inactive adults and do less than 30mins of physical activity per week * aged 16 or over * resident of Hertfordshire boroughs, including Broxbourne, Hertsmere, Stevenage or Watford Referred patients and clients may also have: * a long term medical condition such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol etc. * a mild to moderate mental health condition such as anxiety, depression or stress * a history or family history of heart disease
Exclusion criteria
* participants not able to give informed consent
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Change in Physical activity from baseline | 12 months | Assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Change in perceptions of health from baseline | Short term (3 months), longer term (6 and 12 months) | EuroQOL five dimensions questionnaire (EQ-5D) |
| Change in mental well-being from baseline | Short term (3 months), longer term (6 and 12 months) | Assessed using Warwick Edinburgh well-being scale |
| Readiness to change behaviour | Short term (3 months), longer term (6 and 12 months) | Key determinants of behaviour - measured using COM-B Capability, Opportunity, and Motivation |
Other
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Delivery fidelity | End February 2017, Summer 2017, Autumn 2018 | A process evaluation of Active Herts will take place in three phases with each phase exploring a different theme. Data will be collected in the form of one-to-one interviews with stakeholders, group interviews with the Get Active Specialists, and focus groups with participants. Stakeholders interviewed will include commissioners, higher intervention management, project delivery partners, and health service practitioners. |
| Programme cost-effectiveness | October 2017 - October 2018 | The economic evaluation will examine the costs of delivery of the Active Herts intervention against the benefits gained in terms of reduced risk of morbidity from a range of chronic conditions, the risk of which is associated with physical inactivity. |
Countries
United Kingdom
Contacts
Primary ContactAndy Jones, Prof
Outcome results
None listed