Understanding leisure centre-based physical activity after physical activity referral: evidence from scheme participants and completers in Northumberland UK

Bell, Jordan; Neubeck, Lis; Jin, Kai; Kelly, Paul; Hanson, Coral

Abstract

Physical activity referral schemes (PARS) are a popular physical activity (PA) intervention in the UK. Little is known about the type, intensity and duration of PA undertaken during and post PARS. We calculated weekly leisure centre-based moderate/vigorous PA for PARS participants (n = 448) and PARS completers (n = 746) in Northumberland, UK, between March 2019–February 2020 using administrative data. We categorised activity levels (< 30 min/week, 30–149 min/week and ≥ 150 min/week) and used ordinal regression to examine predictors for activity category achieved. PARS participants took part in a median of 57.0 min (IQR 26.0–90.0) and PARS completers a median of 68.0 min (IQR 42.0–100.0) moderate/vigorous leisure centre-based PA per week. Being a PARS completer (OR: 2.14, 95% CI: 1.61–2.82) was a positive predictor of achieving a higher level of physical activity category compared to PARS participants. Female PARS participants were less likely (OR: 0.65, 95% CI: 0.43–0.97) to achieve ≥ 30 min of moderate/vigorous LCPA per week compared to male PARS participants. PARS participants achieved 38.0% and PARS completers 45.3% of the World Health Organisation recommended ≥ 150 min of moderate/vigorous weekly PA through leisure centre use. Strategies integrated within PARS to promote PA outside of leisure centre-based activity may help participants achieve PA guidelines.

Citation

Bell, J., Neubeck, L., Jin, K., Kelly, P., & Hanson, C. (2021). Understanding leisure centre-based physical activity after physical activity referral: evidence from scheme participants and completers in Northumberland UK. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(6), Article 2957. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18062957

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Mar 9, 2021
• Online Publication Date: Mar 13, 2021
• Publication Date: 2021
• Deposit Date: Mar 12, 2021
• Publicly Available Date: Mar 15, 2021
• Journal: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
• Electronic ISSN: 1660-4601
• Publisher: MDPI
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 18
• Issue: 6
• Article Number: 2957
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18062957
• Keywords: physical activity; exercise referral; public health; adherence
• Public URL: http://researchrepository.napier.ac.uk/Output/2752651
• Publisher URL: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/ijerph