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ToolsChater, Angel M., Schulz, Joerg, Jones, Andy, Burke, Amanda, Carr, Shelby, Kukucska, Dora, Troop, Nick, Trivedi, Daksha and Howlett, Neil (2022) Outcome evaluation of Active Herts: A community-based physical activity programme for inactive adults at risk of cardiovascular disease and low mental wellbeing. Frontiers in Public Health, 10. ISSN 2296-2565
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Abstract
Background: A high proportion of UK adults are inactive, which can lead to a range of physical and mental health concerns. Active Herts is a community-based physical activity programme for inactive adults at risk of cardiovascular disease and/or low mental wellbeing. This paper provides a pragmatic evaluation of this programme. Method: This longitudinal study observed 717 adults (68% female, mean age = 56.9 years) from the “Active Herts” programme. Programme users were provided with a 45-min consultation with a “Get Active Specialist,” who talked them through an Active Herts self-help booklet and then signposted them to free or subsidized local exercise sessions. Programme users were followed up with a booster call 2 weeks later. The Get Active Specialist was a registered exercise professional (REPS Level 3), with additional training from the study team in motivational interviewing, health coaching, COM-B behavioral diagnosis and delivery of behavior change techniques (BCTs) in practice. The Active Herts booklet contained theoretically-driven and evidence-based BCTs to translate behavioral science into public health practice. Physical activity (Metabolic Equivalent Time [METs], measured using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), perceived health (EQ-5D-5L) and mental wellbeing (Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale: WEMWBS) were measured at baseline, 3, 6 and 12 months. Results: At the end of the 12-month programme, users showed sustained improvements in physical activity (by +1331 METS), exceeding weekly recommendations. Sitting (reducing by over an hour per day), sporting participation, and perceptions of health were also improved, with improvements in mental wellbeing in the first 3 months. Conclusion: Designing and delivering a community-based physical activity programme that is theoretically-driven and evidence-based with frequent behavior change training and supervision can yield a significant increase in self-reported physical activity, reduction in sitting behavior and improvements to perceived health and mental wellbeing. Future research should extend this approach, utilizing a real-world, pragmatic evaluation. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier (NCT number): NCT03153098.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Additional Information: | Funding: This work was supported by funding from Sport England (Ref: 2015000295), Broxbourne Borough Council, East and North Herts CCG, Herts Valley CCG, Hertfordshire Public Health, Herts Mind Network, Mind in Mid Herts, Herts Sports Partnership, and time allocation from the University of Hertfordshire, University College London and the University of Bedfordshire. Open access fees have been provided by the Institute for Sport and Physical Activity Research (ISPAR), University of Bedfordshire. |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | behavior change intervention,cardiovascular risk,com-b,exercise,inactivity,mental wellbeing,motivational interviewing,physical activity,public health, environmental and occupational health,sdg 3 - good health and well-being ,/dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/2700/2739 |
| Faculty \ School: | Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Norwich Medical School |
| UEA Research Groups: | Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Centres > Norwich Institute for Healthy Aging Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Centres > Business and Local Government Data Research Centre (former - to 2023) Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Groups > Public Health and Health Services Research (former - to 2023) Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Groups > Health Promotion Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Groups > Epidemiology and Public Health Faculty of Science > Research Groups > Norwich Epidemiology Centre Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Groups > Norwich Epidemiology Centre |
| Related URLs: | |
| Depositing User: | LivePure Connector |
| Date Deposited: | 02 Aug 2022 09:32 |
| Last Modified: | 05 Jul 2025 00:06 |
| URI: | https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/87034 |
| DOI: | 10.3389/fpubh.2022.903109 |
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