Patients' engagement with an Exercise on Referral Scheme
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Exploring the reasons why patients who have at least one long-term condition participate / do not participate in an Exercise on Referral Scheme (Active Options 2) designed to support their physical health and psychosocial well-being.
IRAS ID
227126
Contact name
SUSAN DAWKES
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Edinburgh Napier University
Duration of Study in the UK
3 years, 0 months, 0 days
Research summary
Regular physical activity is known to be beneficial to people to reduce the risk of long-term health conditions such as heart disease, diabetes and cancer. Despite this, 33% of men and 42% of women in Scotland are not active enough to benefit their health. Schemes where healthcare professionals refer patients who already have a long-term condition to exercise programmes designed to increase physical activity are common in the United Kingdom. These are known as Exercise on Referral Schemes (ERS). These schemes are usually offered by local sports and leisure providers (e.g. local council). There is a lack of understanding about whether such ERSs are successful in encouraging patients to be more physically active. Participation in ERS is variable and research suggests that men are less likely then women to be referred and attend.
This study will explore the following: firstly, patients’ attitudes and beliefs to and engagement with one particular ERS offered by Fife Sports and Leisure Trust called Active Options 2. Secondly, whether the ERS is successful in increasing the physical activity of the patients who attend it. The lastly, the study will explore NHS Fife healthcare professionals’ attitudes and beliefs of physical activity and investigate their knowledge of the Active Options 2 programme and how they select patients for referral to it.
Those eligible are: Fife patents who have at least one long-term condition referred to the ERS by healthcare professionals and NHS Fife healthcare professionals who have referred at least one patient to the ERS in the last year.
Patients (n=200) referred to the ERS will be asked to complete a telephone survey three times over the course of a year (at the start, after 12 and 52 weeks) and some (around 30) will be interviewed. Around 25 healthcare professionals will be interviewed.
REC name
HSC REC A
REC reference
17/NI/0112
Date of REC Opinion
7 Jul 2017
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion