River Teign Fish Survey 1990

This is the River Teign Fisheries Survey from 1990 by the Environment Agency Archives South West (unpublished). The aim of the survey was to assess the distribution and relative abundance of salmonid fish in the River Teign. Thirty six sites were examined; twenty one of them had been examined in previous quantitative fish surveys. At each site, all fish species encountered were caught and measured, however, only data for salmonid fishes has been examined. The results are compared with those of the 1963 and 1972 surveys carried out by the Devon River Authority and the 1975 and 1979 surveys carried out by South West Water Authority. A full list of sites together with their location, fish densities, lengths, weights and ages is attached

Planning for Development using Social Impact

Economic development activities change the physical and social environments in which individuals live. For planners, it is important to anticipate the types of changes that might occur, and to put measures in place that mitigate negative impacts and promote positive impacts on people and communities. Social Impact Assessment (SIA) was introduced as a tool for understanding the social impacts of development. There are three factors, however, that limit the use of SIA in developing countries. First, the original SIA tool was designed in a developed country, and as such the list of indicators developed may not suitable for local conditions. Second, there is no specific theoretical underpinning of the SIA tool, and thus no link between the SIA tool and particular theories of social behaviour. Third, there is no particular link between what SIA measures, and what should be done to mitigate the effects of development activities. The purpose of this paper is to address these three issues and in doing so, provide a SIA tool that can be applied usefully and practically in a developing country. The theoretical basis of SIA used in the paper is Actor-Network Theory (ANT). The tool, which was developed using ANT, principles consists of five stages of analysis: identification of principal actors (human and non-human) and the changes due to development; exploration of the ownership of resources (capital) that enables principle actors to change; identification of change agents attached to the capital of principal actors; tracing which interests of actors are aligned to deal with the development; and an analysis of the social change platform (mobilization of actors) based on connections of all principal actors with other actors. Each of these stages provides the basis for determining what should be assessed in SIA, how to structure the assessment, and how to interpret the results of a SIA.Social Impact Assessment (SIA), Actor-Network Theory (ANT), development impact, Community/Rural/Urban Development, Public Economics,

Birmingham, West Midlands’ Young Persons’ Physical Activity Pathway: Evaluation Report

The Birmingham, West Midlands’ Young Persons’ Physical Activity Pathway (YPPAP) is a pilot six week behavioural intervention (a physical activity pathway) aimed at increasing physical activity levels in school-aged children in school years 6 and 7 (ages 10-12 yrs). It builds on the experiences of the South Staffordshire (SS) Physical Activity Care Pathway (PACP), but was developed specifically to focus on school-age young people in an urban city setting. For the purposes of the evaluation a mixed-methods approach including a quantitative and qualitative component was employed. Data analysis revealed that of the 239 eligible participants, 99 entered the pathway (31.2%). Ninety-three participants set physical goals at baseline and 3 were lost to follow up representing a pathway completion rate of 97% (n = 90). Overall, the results indicated that the increase in ‘spare time’ physical activity was statistically significant (t(95)=-2.88, p=.005), but the differences were not significant for overall physical activity (t(95)=-.096, p=.924), or mean frequency of physical activity (t(95)=-.414, p=.680). Analysis also revealed that the correlation between change in physical activity between baseline and follow up and the number of goals set by participants was not significant (r = 0.08, p =.436). Qualitative findings revealed that participants perceived that the pathway had helped to educate them about the relationship between physical activity and health and had provided a means of engaging with physical activity in a way that was fun and non-threatening. Delivery costs were also calculated taking into account management and delivery costs, including resources, training and support, the total cost per child of delivering the intervention was £143. The high completion rate might point to the utility of using school settings for physical activity interventions. Problematically, the limited sample size prevented the meaningful investigation of any relationship between the physical activity options chosen by young participants and outcomes in terms of potential increases in levels of physical activity. Similarly, it was not possible to fully investigate the potential effects of gender, class, ethnicity, disability status on adherence to the pathway or physical activity behaviour. More usefully, data analysis revealed that the pathway attracted a range of participants which demonstrated potential for securing the interest and motivation of participants. This finding underpins the importance of understanding the number, variety and availability of local physical activity opportunities and delivering the intervention in a way that is engaging and supportive

Birmingham, West Midlands’ Young Persons’ Physical Activity Pathway: Evaluation Report

The Birmingham, West Midlands’ Young Persons’ Physical Activity Pathway (YPPAP) is a pilot six week behavioural intervention (a physical activity pathway) aimed at increasing physical activity levels in school-aged children in school years 6 and 7 (ages 10-12 yrs). It builds on the experiences of the South Staffordshire (SS) Physical Activity Care Pathway (PACP), but was developed specifically to focus on school-age young people in an urban city setting. For the purposes of the evaluation a mixed-methods approach including a quantitative and qualitative component was employed. Data analysis revealed that of the 239 eligible participants, 99 entered the pathway (31.2%). Ninety-three participants set physical goals at baseline and 3 were lost to follow up representing a pathway completion rate of 97% (n = 90). Overall, the results indicated that the increase in ‘spare time’ physical activity was statistically significant (t(95)=-2.88, p=.005), but the differences were not significant for overall physical activity (t(95)=-.096, p=.924), or mean frequency of physical activity (t(95)=-.414, p=.680). Analysis also revealed that the correlation between change in physical activity between baseline and follow up and the number of goals set by participants was not significant (r = 0.08, p =.436). Qualitative findings revealed that participants perceived that the pathway had helped to educate them about the relationship between physical activity and health and had provided a means of engaging with physical activity in a way that was fun and non-threatening. Delivery costs were also calculated taking into account management and delivery costs, including resources, training and support, the total cost per child of delivering the intervention was £143. The high completion rate might point to the utility of using school settings for physical activity interventions. Problematically, the limited sample size prevented the meaningful investigation of any relationship between the physical activity options chosen by young participants and outcomes in terms of potential increases in levels of physical activity. Similarly, it was not possible to fully investigate the potential effects of gender, class, ethnicity, disability status on adherence to the pathway or physical activity behaviour. More usefully, data analysis revealed that the pathway attracted a range of participants which demonstrated potential for securing the interest and motivation of participants. This finding underpins the importance of understanding the number, variety and availability of local physical activity opportunities and delivering the intervention in a way that is engaging and supportive

Investigating the potential role of visualisation in natural resource decision-making

Computer-aided visualisation can be applied to natural environments to understand the impact of proposed developments or management strategies, but little evaluation of the effectiveness of these tools has been undertaken. In seeking to manage natural environments, it is desirable to model and understand these complex interactions in order to compare the outcomes of applying different management strategies. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether there are significant differences in knowledge outcomes depending on the form in which visualisation of environmental changes is presented, using a case study of Te Waihora/Lake Ellesmere, a broad, shallow lagoon in the South Island of New Zealand. Te Waihora/Lake Ellesmere is separated from the Pacific Ocean by the long narrow sandy Kaitorete Spit. Its unique position allows for it to be opened to the sea periodically to provide drainage and prevent flooding of surrounding farmlands. There is a lack of agreement among the diverse stakeholders regarding the appropriate levels at which the lake level should be maintained throughout the year. We describe an interactive visualisation tool (ElleVis) which shows the effects of different water levels on the flora and fauna, as well as plants and animals living in and around the Lake. The tool allows users to input different opening scenarios and visualise the resulting impact on water levels around the lake at various times. It incorporates historical rainfall data from New Zealand’s National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research to deliver a graphical map display, including a summary table with a ‘traffic light’ status for lake values - birds, fish, farming and other stakeholder interests at different locations around the lake. The interactive nature of the ElleVis tool allows the stakeholders to compare Te Waihora/Lake Ellesmere under different opening scenarios using one interactive tool. However, it is possible, for example, that providing information about changes in lake behaviour in a carefully and clearly presented non-interactive form may be as successful as providing it in an interactive form of ElleVis. In order to test for the effect of interactive versus non-interactive forms of visualization, we conducted an experiment with forty participants (randomly assigned to two test groups) who have various interests at Te Waihora. We provided them with either an interactive or a non-interactive form of visualisation. Results were recorded from a structured interview after the test. The findings revealed that interactive visualisation was key to advantageous learning about changes in environmental behaviour. We argue that the techniques presented have the potential to stimulate meaningful discussions in natural resource situations that involve contested resources or a multiplicity of interests, but at the same time, there is an urgent need for evaluation of such tools in participatory decision-making processes

A systematic review of the relationship between socio-economic position and physical activity

Objective \ud The aim of the present review was to examine epidemiological evidence to determine if there is strong evidence of a positive gradient of increasing physical activity across the socio-economic strata, and how relationships are affected by socio-economic measurement.\ud \ud Design \ud Systematic review.\ud \ud Method \ud A search of major databases was conducted to identify published studies that reported physical activity in relation to socio-economic position (SEP) in adults.\ud Results Twenty-eight cross-sectional and five longitudinal studies met the inclusion criteria. Approximately half of these were American. Consequently education and income were most commonly used to represent SEP. The majority of studies were secondary analyses of existing health survey data, which could explain the generally large sample sizes and methodological weaknesses in physical activity and SEP measurement. There was consistent evidence of a higher prevalence or higher levels of leisure-time or moderate-vigorous intensity physical activity in those at the top of the socio-economic strata compared with those at the bottom. Evidence for positive gradients across the socio-economic strata was less consistent. Education produced the most stable relationships, less susceptible to confounding effects of ethnicity and the environment.\ud \ud Conclusion \ud Those at the top of the socio-economic scale appear to perform more leisure-time activity than those at the bottom. Diverse and often crude physical activity and socio-economic measurement made it difficult to distinguish between artefact and true effect in a relationship with so many potential confounding influences. Further studies using up-to-date methods of socio-economic and physical activity measurement are necessary to further explore this relationship and its confounders

A qualitative investigation of non-response in NHS health checks

Background Improving uptake of NHS Health Checks has become a priority in England, but there is a lack of data on the perceptions of programme non-attenders. This study aimed to explore how non-attenders of NHS Health Checks perceive the programme, identify reasons for non-attendance and inform strategies to improve uptake. Method This qualitative study involved individuals registered at four general practices in Stoke-on-Trent, UK, who had not taken up their invitation to a NHS Health Check. Semi-structured face-to-face and telephone interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim for Thematic Analysis. Results Interviews were completed with 19 males and 22 females (mean age 52.9 ± 8.5 years), who were socio-demographically representative of the non-attender population. Four main themes identified related to: the positive perception of the Health Check concept among non-attenders; the perceived lack of personal relevance; ineffective invitation method and appointment inconvenience were common barriers; previous experience of primary care can influence uptake. Conclusions Fundamental requirements for improving uptake are that individuals recognise the personal relevance of Health Checks and that attendance is convenient. Incorporating more sophisticated and personalised risk communication as part of the invitation could increase impact and promote candidacy. Flexibility and convenience of appointments should be considered by participating general practices. Keywords Health check Mass screening Cardiovascular diseases Qualitative researc

Uptake and participation in physical activity referral schemes in the UK: an investigation of patients referred with mental health problems

The study compared outcomes of uptake, attendance, and completion between two patient groups (mental health, n = 134 and physical health, n = 2767) in a physical activity referral scheme in the UK during 2000 to 2003. Despite similar rates for the physical health and mental health groups for initial progression (94% vs. 90%), referral uptake (60% vs. 69%; p < 0.001) and programme completion (22% vs. 34%; p < 0.001) were significantly lower in the mental health referrals. In conclusion, physical activity referral schemes appear to be less well suited to the needs of the mental health patient. Further research is recommended

A systematic review of the relationship between socio-economic position and physical activity

Objective The aim of the present review was to examine epidemiological evidence to determine if there is strong evidence of a positive gradient of increasing physical activity across the socio-economic strata, and how relationships are affected by socio-economic measurement. Design Systematic review. Method A search of major databases was conducted to identify published studies that reported physical activity in relation to socio-economic position (SEP) in adults. Results Twenty-eight cross-sectional and five longitudinal studies met the inclusion criteria. Approximately half of these were American. Consequently education and income were most commonly used to represent SEP. The majority of studies were secondary analyses of existing health survey data, which could explain the generally large sample sizes and methodological weaknesses in physical activity and SEP measurement. There was consistent evidence of a higher prevalence or higher levels of leisure-time or moderate-vigorous intensity physical activity in those at the top of the socio-economic strata compared with those at the bottom. Evidence for positive gradients across the socio-economic strata was less consistent. Education produced the most stable relationships, less susceptible to confounding effects of ethnicity and the environment. Conclusion Those at the top of the socio-economic scale appear to perform more leisure-time activity than those at the bottom. Diverse and often crude physical activity and socio-economic measurement made it difficult to distinguish between artefact and true effect in a relationship with so many potential confounding influences. Further studies using up-to-date methods of socio-economic and physical activity measurement are necessary to further explore this relationship and its confounders

Alcohol and physical activity screening in the National Health Service Health Check programme: Comparison of medical records and actual practice

Objectives National data for the National Health Service (NHS) Health Check programme (in England), collected by University College London, Public Health England and NHS Digital, found that physical activity and alcohol was recorded in just 64.5% and 38.3% of patient records, respectively. We examined video recorded NHS Health Checks from the RIsk COmmunication in NHS Health Check study (collected 2018–19) to explore alcohol and physical activity measurement, comparing recorded and actual activity. Study design Observational study. Methods Anonymised medical records and transcripts of 130 video-recorded NHS Health Checks from 12 general practices were compared to understand use of alcohol (Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test, Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test-Concise, Fast Alcohol Screening Test) and physical activity (General Practitioner Physical Activity Questionnaire) measures. Results Findings showed considerable discrepancies between how alcohol measurement was recorded in the patient's medical record and how it was assessed in practice. Equally, practitioners completed or partially completed AUDIT in fewer than half of patients who were perceived to be eligible for further screening. There was more consistency in physical activity assessment. Omitted questions, related to physical activity, were largely around work-related physical activity. Conclusions Overall, inconsistent use of recommended tools for screening alcohol and physical activity in NHS Health Check suggests that some practitioners do not follow recommended national guidance. Omission of certain questions led to missed opportunities for practitioners to discuss alcohol consumption, particularly with those who reported apparently excessive alcohol consumption (>14 units per week). Interviews with NHS Health Check practitioners may help to understand barriers to following recommended practice and identify areas for improvement