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

Manx: Close air support aircraft preliminary design

The Manx is a twin engine, twin tailed, single seat close air support design proposal for the 1991 Team Student Design Competition. It blends advanced technologies into a lightweight, high performance design with the following features: High sensitivity (rugged, easily maintained, with night/adverse weather capability); Highly maneuverable (negative static margin, forward swept wing, canard, and advanced avionics result in enhanced aircraft agility); and Highly versatile (design flexibility allows the Manx to contribute to a truly integrated ground team capable of rapid deployment from forward sites)

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

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 \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 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