Impact of a National Peer-Led Training Program to Increase Brief Physical Activity Advice Given to Patients by Health Care Professionals

Background: The benefits of physical activity for preventing and managing long-term health conditions are well established and health care professionals could promote physical activity to patients. The current study aims to evaluate the impact of the Clinical Champions Physical Activity Training Program. Methods: Health care professionals attend a one-off in-person training session delivered by a trained Clinical Champion. Attendees at the Clinical Champions Physical Activity Training Program were asked to complete a baseline survey prior to the training session and follow-up surveys 4 and 12 weeks posttraining. Results: A total of 5945 training attendees completed the baseline survey. A total of 1859 and 754 participants completed 4- and 12-week follow-up (31.3% and 12.7% response rate, respectively). Significant increases in confidence to deliver brief physical activity advice and knowledge of physical activity guidelines were reported at 12 weeks (P < .001). The perceived frequency of physical activity discussions with patients significantly increased (P < .001). Twelve weeks after training, fewer barriers in promoting physical activity were reported. Conclusions: The evaluation of the Clinical Champions Physical Activity Training Program demonstrated an increase in knowledge of physical activity guidelines, levels of confidence, and frequency of delivery of brief physical activity advice to patients. Further research is required to determine if this impact translates into changes to patients’ physical activity behavior

Mixed Methods Process Evaluation of a National Peer-Led Training Program to Increase Brief Advice on Physical Activity Given By Health Care Professionals

Introduction: Health care professionals are well-positioned to encourage physical activity. The Clinical Champions Physical Activity Training Program (CCTP) aimed to increase population-level physical activity across England. This study aimed to (1) evaluate CCTP uptake and utilization; (2) explore CCTP fidelity, barriers, facilitators, and satisfaction; and (3) provide recommendations for program improvement. Methods: Physical Activity Clinical Champions were recruited and trained to deliver training to other health care professionals about physical activity. The Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, and Maintenance (RE-AIM) framework was used to conduct a process evaluation using data collected from CCTP training sessions delivered (often at hospitals and General Practitioner surgeries) between February and December 2018. Results: About 509 training sessions were delivered, with 89% of sessions delivered by doctor/physician and nurse Clinical Champions; 8917 health care professionals attended a training session. Sessions lasted on average 1 hour 28 minutes and core slide sets were used in 65% of sessions. Barriers related to arranging the sessions and time available to deliver sessions. Conclusion: The process evaluation demonstrated a national peer-led training program can reach all geographical regions of England; however, barriers need to be addressed. Recommendations include providing more administrative support to the Clinical Champions, improving communication and advertising to raise awareness of the CCTP, and standardizing training session duration and content

Knowledge of physical activity recommendations in adults employed in England: associations with individual and workplace-related predictors

Background Physical activity guidelines state that adults should engage in at least 150 min of moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) per week to benefit health. A high proportion of adults in England fail to reach this target. Accurate knowledge of MVPA guidelines could influence the amount and quality of MVPA engaged in by adults. This study aimed to determine knowledge of the MVPA guideline within a large sample of working adults in England and identify individual and workplace-related predictors of knowledge. Methods 10,992 adults completed an online survey which included questions on demographics, knowledge of the MVPA guideline and workplace predictors for physical activity. Multinomial logistic regression identified predictors of underestimating, overestimating or not knowing the MVPA guideline relative to accurately reporting the guideline for males and females separately. Results Respondents were 37 % male, 95 % White, 63 % with a degree or higher, and had a mean age of 38.9 ± 11 years. The MVPA guideline was accurately reported by 15 % of adults while 13.8 % overestimated, 8.9 % underestimated and 62.3 % failed to provide any estimate of the guideline. Low education predicted underestimation (females: OR = 0.36, 95 % CI 0.17, 0.80) and not knowing (males: OR = 0.37, 95 % CI 0.14, 0.96; females: OR = 0.36, 95 % CI 0.19, 0.69). Ethnicity was a significant predictor for females only (OR 3.55, 95 % CI 1.46, 8.63; OR 4.03, 95 % CI 1.58, 10.27; OR 3.73, 95 % CI 1.67, 8.33). Employer support for physical activity was a significant predictor of accurate knowledge of the MVPA guideline for both males (underestimation: OR = 0.63, 95 % CI 0.40, 1.00; ‘don’t know’: OR = 0.71, 95 % CI 0.51, 1.00) and females (overestimation: OR = 0.72, 95 % CI 0.53, 0.97; underestimation: OR = 0.66, 95 % CI 0.47, 0.92; ‘don’t know’: OR = 0.60, 95 % CI 0.47, 0.76). Conclusions Knowledge of the MVPA guideline within working adults in England is low. Employers should play a role in using targeted strategies to increase knowledge as employer support-related factors may influence knowledge of the MVPA guideline. Employers who assert strategies to promote physical activity and encourage employees who have responsibility for promoting health to educate their colleagues may help improve the MVPA knowledge of their employees

Evaluation of the impact of the TOP programmes on teaching and learning in primary schools in England

Appropriately designed, resourced and delivered physical education (PE) programmes are believed to nurture movement skills, foster an appreciation of physical activity and enhance the quality of young people’s lives (Physical Education Association of the United Kingdom (PEA UK), 1998, p.1). Physical education is also considered to play an important role in developing young people’s life-long interest and participation in physical activity and sport (Williams, 2000). However, it has been recognised for some time that primary school teachers are not receiving sufficient training and support to effectively deliver physical education to pupils (Hardman & Marshall, 2002; Ofsted, 1998; Speednet (a consortium of national organisations representing physical education and school sport), 1999). This lack of investment in initial and ongoing teacher training in the primary sector has led to primary school teachers having limited knowledge of, and lacking confidence in teaching, physical education (Hardman & Marshall, 2002; Ofsted, 1998; Speednet, 1999)

Workplace policies and practices promoting physical activity across England: What is commonly used and what works?

Purpose. Many adults fail to achieve sufficient moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA). Understanding how workplaces most effectively promote physical activity can benefit public health. Design/methodology/approach. Data were collected via two online surveys. Firstly, 3,360 adults employed at 308 workplaces across England self-reported their MVPA, activity status at work and frequency of journeys made through active commuting. From this sample, 588 participants reported on the policies and practices used in their workplace to promote physical activity. Factor and cluster analysis identified common practice. Regression models examined the association between the workplace factors and engagement in physical activity behaviours. Findings. Five factors emerged: targeting active travel, information about physical activity outside the workplace, facilities and onsite opportunities, sedentary behaviour, and information about physical activity within the workplace. Further, five clusters were identified to illustrate how the factors are typically being utilised by workplaces across England. Commonly used practices related to promoting active travel, reducing sedentary behaviour and the provision of information but these practices were not associated with meeting MVPA guidelines. The provision of facilities and onsite exercise classes was associated with the most positive physical activity behaviour outcomes; however, these structures were rarely evident in workplaces. Originality/value. Previous research has identified a number of efficacious actions for promoting physical activity in the workplace, however, research investigating which of these are likely to be acceptable to worksites is limited. The present study is the first to combine these two important aspects. Five common profiles of promoting physical activity in worksites across England were identified and related to physical activity outcomes. Guidance is given to workplace managers to enable them to maximise the resources they have for the greatest gains in employee health. Where feasible, facilities and classes should be provided to achieve the most positive outcomes

Evaluation of a national workplace physical activity and sport initiative in England: the CSP network workplace challenge [Abstract]

Evaluation of a national workplace physical activity and sport initiative in England: the CSP network workplace challenge [Abstract

Young people's knowledge and understanding of health, fitness and physical activity: issues, divides and dilemmas

Critical discourse analysis was used to explore and discuss data on young people’s knowledge and understanding of health, fitness and physical activity, selected from a wider study which focused on the role of secondary schools in effectively promoting physical activity. A mixed methods approach was utilised, involving an online survey to teachers in all state secondary schools in the UK (n  = 603 responding schools) and case studies centred on eight randomly selected state secondary schools from nine Government regions across England. Within each case study school, teacher interviews and pupil focus groups were conducted involving 17 teachers and 132 children aged 12–15 years, respectively. The healthism discourse was evident in the way young people talked about health, fitness and physical activity and two key themes emerged, these being: (i) issues with young people’s knowledge and understanding of health, fitness and physical activity in the form of reductive, limited and limiting conceptions; conceptual confusion; a preoccupation with appearance, weight, fat, shape and size; limited progression in learning; and complexities in understandings; and (ii) divides between young people’s health knowledge and health behaviour, and dilemmas underpinning these divides. Improved understanding of issues with young people’s knowledge and understanding of health, fitness and physical activity and of divides and dilemmas regarding associated behaviours should assist in developing critical pedagogies which challenge the dominance and stability of the healthism discourse and more effectively promote healthy, active lifestyles amongst young people

Bright spots, physical activity investments that work: workplace challenge

Bright spots, physical activity investments that work: workplace challeng

Bright spots, physical activity investments that work: Workplace Challenge

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Workplace policies and practices promoting physical activity across England: what is commonly used and what works?

Purpose Many adults fail to achieve sufficient moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA). Understanding how workplaces most effectively promote physical activity can benefit public health. Design/methodology/approach Data were collected via two online surveys. Firstly, 3,360 adults employed at 308 workplaces across England self-reported their MVPA, activity status at work and frequency of journeys made through active commuting. From this sample, 588 participants reported on the policies and practices used in their workplace to promote physical activity. Factor and cluster analysis identified common practice. Regression models examined the association between the workplace factors and engagement in physical activity behaviours. Findings Five factors emerged: targeting active travel, information about physical activity outside the workplace, facilities and onsite opportunities, sedentary behaviour, and information about physical activity within the workplace. Further, five clusters were identified illustrate how the factors are typically being utilised by workplaces across England. Commonly used practices related to promoting active travel,reducing sedentary behaviour and the provision of information but these practices were not associated with meeting MVPA guidelines. The provision of facilities and onsite exercise classes was associated with the most positive physical activity behaviour outcomes; however, these structures were rarely evident in workplaces. Originality/value. Previous research has identified a number of efficacious actions for promoting physical activity in the workplace, however, research investigating which of these are likely to be acceptable to worksites is limited. The present study is the first to combine these two important aspects. Five common profiles of promoting physical activity in worksites across England were identified and related to physical activity outcomes. Guidance is given to workplace managers to enable them to maximise the resources they have for the greatest gains in employee health. Where feasible, facilities and classes should be provided to achieve the most positive outcomes