Evaluating the effectiveness of ALBA intervention

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  Evaluating the long term effectiveness of interventions designed to increase physical activity levels of people living with mental and/or physical health conditions, leading to improved mental and physical health and well-being.

• IRAS ID

  216519

• Contact name

  Nicola Peddie

• Contact email

  40295489@live.napier.ac.uk

• Sponsor organisation

  Edinburgh Napier University

• Duration of Study in the UK

  2 years, 5 months, 31 days

• Research summary

  This study will evaluate the long term effectiveness of the community-based intervention "Active Living Becomes Achievable" (ALBA), which aims to increase levels of physical activity in people who have been referred by a GP to exercise referral schemes due to a long term health condition or mental health condition. The behaviour change intervention combines a cognitive behavioural approach with exercise referral programs already existing in local leisure trusts. The aim of the intervention is to to address poor adherence rates in these exercise referral programs and provide support which will help people to achieve long term behaviour change.

  The intervention will be based on the COM-B model of behaviour change and will aim to provide knowledge and skills which will enhance participants capability and motivation which will enable and encourage self-management, self-esteem and a positive attitude towards physical activity. A peer support element has also been built into the intervention, where participants who have been through the intervention will be invited to continue as volunteers, who will support in the cognitive behavioural element of the intervention. Individual’s physical activity will be monitored throughout the intervention using Storm health technology trackers.

  The aim of the study is to evaluate the effectiveness of this intervention in increasing adherence to physical activity programs in the long term.

  Objectives
  - to assess the interventions impact on participant’s levels of physical activity
  - to assess the interventions impact on participants mental wellbeing
  - to evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention in increasing adherence to physical activity programs
  - to evaluate the effectiveness of peer support on adherence
  - to evaluate the effectiveness of the training and delivery of behaviour change intervention
  - to evaluate the validity and reliability of STORM technology for measuring physical activity

• REC name

  West of Scotland REC 4

• REC reference

  16/WS/0246

• Date of REC Opinion

  20 Dec 2016

• REC opinion

  Favourable Opinion